Bishop of Birmingham named Archbishop of York

The Bishop of Birmingham, the Right Reverend John Sentamu, has been named as the next Archbishop of York, the second most senior post in the Church of England.

The appointment was announced by Downing Street on 17 June. Dr Sentamu will become the 97th Archbishop of York and the first Black archbishop in the history of the Church of England.

From Uganda to York

John Sentamu was born near Kampala in Uganda in 1949, one of 13 children. He studied law and became a barrister and later a judge of the High Court in Uganda.

His outspoken stand for justice brought him into conflict with the regime of Idi Amin, and he was detained and beaten. In 1974 he fled to Britain, where he studied theology at Cambridge and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1979.

He served in parishes in London before becoming Bishop of Stepney in 1996. He was appointed Bishop of Birmingham in 2002.

A national voice

Dr Sentamu has become known nationally for his work on race and justice. He was an adviser to the inquiry into the murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence, which found evidence of institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police, and he chaired the review into the handling of the case of Damilola Taylor, a schoolboy killed in south London.

He is known for his energetic, direct style and his willingness to speak out on social issues. He has spoken on poverty, crime, immigration and the role of faith in public life, and has been a frequent voice on television and radio.

Three years in Birmingham

In his three years in Birmingham, Dr Sentamu has become a well-known figure in the city. He has worked to build links between different faiths and communities, and has spoken out on issues such as gun crime, which has claimed young lives in the city.

He has also championed the regeneration of the city, and the role of churches in supporting local communities, especially in the inner city.

What happens next

Dr Sentamu will be formally elected by the chapter of York Minster and enthroned later this year. He succeeds Dr David Hope, who is retiring as archbishop to return to parish ministry.

A new Bishop of Birmingham will be chosen in due course. The process can take many months, and the diocese will be led by its senior clergy in the meantime.

Many in Birmingham will be sad to see Dr Sentamu go so soon, but proud that a bishop of the city has been chosen for one of the highest offices in the Church.