New archbishop Welby takes office (From News Shopper)

New archbishop Welby takes office

2:24pm Monday 4th February 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has formally taken office at a ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral.

The Most Rev Justin Welby, former Bishop of Durham, was confirmed as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury at a service under the dome of the cathedral attended by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and seven other senior Church of England bishops.

The ancient ceremony forms part of the legal process for appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury and will be followed by Mr Welby's enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral next month.

Mr Welby, 57, succeeds Dr Rowan Williams, who left after a decade in office at the end of December to take up a new post as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Dr Sentamu, who preached at the service, said: "Archbishop Justin Welby brings many gifts to the office of Archbishop of Canterbury.

"He has my prayers and my support as he assumes this challenging role in the service of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion worldwide."

During the ceremony, Mr Welby took the oath of allegiance to the Queen and made a formal written declaration of assent to his election as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The service heard prayers for Mr Welby, his wife Caroline and their five children, that they may find "joy" in their new home.

The ceremony was attended by the bishops of Norwich, Leicester, Lincoln, Rochester, Winchester, Salisbury and London.