Welby to be enthroned as Archbishop (From Times Series)

Welby to be enthroned as Archbishop

6:59am Thursday 21st March 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

Religious leaders from across the globe are to join royalty and senior politicians for the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Most Rev Justin Welby will formally begin his public ministry as head of the Church of England, spiritual leader of the 77-million strong Anglican Communion and 105th Archbishop of Canterbury at a service in Canterbury Cathedral.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as Prime Minister David Cameron will be among around 2,000 people attending the ceremony.

Those also in the congregation will include representatives of major world religions including Muslims, Jews and Sikhs and senior figures from the Roman Catholic and orthodox churches.

The event marks the formal reception of the Most Rev Welby, 57, at Canterbury, the mother church of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion. It is the last stage in his appointment following his confirmation of election in February at St Paul's Cathedral.

The post of Archbishop of Canterbury combines several roles. The Most Rev Welby is diocesan bishop of Canterbury, head of the southern province of the Church of England and senior bishop of all England.

He is also leader of the Anglican communion worldwide.

Ahead of his enthronement, the Archbishop told the BBC he does not doubt the Church's policy on same-sex relationships. However he added that he was "challenged as to how we respond to it".

"The Church of England holds very firmly, and continues to hold to the view, that marriage is a lifelong union of one man to one woman," he said.

"At the same time, at the heart of our understanding of what it is to be human is the essential dignity of the human being. And so we have to be very clear about homophobia."