 Rowan Williams was enthroned today as the 104th Archdruid Archbishop of Canterbury in a lavish ceremony. Previously the Archdruid Archbishop of Wales, Dr Williams wore vestments made by Welsh craftsmen and from Welsh materials as he sat in the 13th century marble chair of St Augustine and swore an oath on the 1500-year-old Canterbury gospels.
First time I saw a picture of him in his druid costume, I swore a might oath, too. And I'm not even an Anglican...
In a break with Anglican tradition, the first Welsh archdruid archbishop selected one of his own translations of a Welsh hymn to be sung at the service. The enthronement was given added Celtic flavour by a harp accompaniment to the soprano soloist Rachel Grey. The Welsh anthem Cwm Rhondda was also sung. Inside, leaders of other Christian denominations, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths, shared pews with the Prince of Wales and senior politicians.
Did they, uhhh... sacrifice anyone? I understand it was a druid tradition on special occasions...
The ceremony was the culmination of the lengthy process of installing the controversial intellectual as spiritual leader of the Church of England and 70 million Anglicans worldwide. But outside the great oak doors of the cathedral, protesters opposed to the new archbishop's liberal views gathered to make their feelings heard. Dr Williams has publicly backed homosexuals in the church and favours the appointment of women bishops. |