New anti-banker Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed by Marlborough’s own rector

Marlborough’s rector, the Rev Canon Andrew Studdert-Kennedy, has welcomed the appointment of Justin Welby, the Bishop of Durham, as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, who has heavily criticised the activities of the UK’s bankers.

“it is excellent to see a Bishop as a member of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards who is there on account of his experience and understanding of the commercial world,” he told Marlborough News Online.  “Apparently his contributions have been outstanding.  I like the observation that: ‘The new Archbishop of Canterbury has the intellect of a financier, the acumen of a politician, the faith of an evangelical and the courage of an African peace negotiator’.”

“You can’t ask for more than that!”

The rector, who spent his sabbatical earlier this year taking part in a church project talking to City bankers, added: “I have heard nothing but praise and welcome.”

“The fact that he has been a bishop for less than a year should not matter because there are plenty of others around from whom he can take advice, whilst it can be an advantage to be fresher to the institution.”

“There is quite a widespread recognition that the role and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury need to be reviewed, in order that the job become more manageable.”

Archbishop Welby is a supporter of women being allowed to become bishops in the Church of England but against gay marriage in church, which another clergyman has accused Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne of supporting for purely electoral reasons.

The Archbishop’s support for women bishops, to be tested today (Tuesday) at the church’s General Synod meeting, is also supported by the Rt Rev Nick Holtam, who was appointed Bishop of Salisbury last summer.

In a statement signed by six senior clergy, Bishop Holtam says: “We believe wholeheartedly that this is the right thing to do, and that the time is now right to do it.  There are many reasons for this belief, and we highlight just some of them.”

“First, because the Bible teaches that ‘in Christ there is no male or female;  but all people are equal before God.  Just as the churches have repented of our historic anti-Semitism and endorsement of slavery, so we believe that we must now show clearly that we not longer believe women to be inferior to me’.”

“Secondly, Jesus treated women radically equally.  He encouraged then as disciples, and chose women as the first witness of His resurrection, at a time when women’s testimony was inadmissible in law.”

“Thirdly, we have promised as clergy to ‘proclaim the faith afresh in every generation’.  We fear that failing to take this step would do the opposite, proclaiming instead that the church is more interested in the past than the future.”

“The legislation to be voted represents enormous compromise from all sides.  Those who wish to avoid the ministry of women will still be able legally to do so.”