Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator

The Rt. Rev. Alfred Reid (left), Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, in discussion with the Rt. Rev. Robert Thompson, Suffragan Bishop of Kingston after yesterday's media briefing to announce plans for the pending visit of Archbishop of York, John Sentamu (pictured in background), next month. - Photo by Oliver Wright

The Anglican Diocese is putting arrangements in place to welcome and host the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, on his visit to Jamaica.

The archbishop will be on an official visit to the island from October 5-12, in commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

"The visit of Archbishop Sentamu is significant," said Alfred Reid, Bishop of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands, at a press briefing yesterday. "It is to highlight the significance of the Anglican Church in the abolition of slavery."

Bishop Reid: "I don't call it celebration but commemoration. We cannot celebrate things that should not have started in the first place."

The visit of Archbishop Sentamu, sponsored by Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), will be under the theme - 'Called to Freedom, Working for Justice, Embracing Responsibility'.

A champion for freedom and justice

Bishop Reid shared the thoughts behind inviting Archbishop Sentamu, calling him a champion for freedom and justice.

"It is common to invite people to speak, but he is a person who embodies freedom, he is not a token, but he is a champion for justice," the bishop said.

The Archbishop of York, the second highest level of leadership in the Church of England, is scheduled to be conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of the West Indies, Mona, at a special convocation on October 6. The past recipients of the honorary degree have been Desmond Tutu (1986), Nelson Mandela (1991), Colin Powell (1994), Harry Belafonte (1996) and Kofi Annan (1998).

"The awarding of the honorary degree is most important," said Bishop Reid, "in honouring him we are honouring ourselves and recognising the role of the Church in the field of education in Jamaica."

Archbishop Sentamu will arrive on October 5 from London. He is scheduled to attend a commemorative service on October 7 at the National Arena.

He is also due to address the Anglican Youth Assembly at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St. Andrew. The Archbishop of York will also visit the cathedral of St. Jago De la Vega in Spanish Town and tour the Spanish Town Square.

He will visit Mandeville on October 10 where he will meet clergy and church workers of the Mandeville region. He will travel to Montego Bay, on October 11, where he is scheduled to tour the Glendevon community, returning to Kingston in the evening to attend a farewell ceremony at The Little Theatre.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com