Holy Week 2022 Guest Preacher: The Rt. Rev’d. and the Rt. Hon. Baron John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, Former Archbishop of York

Biography

The Rt Rev’d and the Rt Hon. Baron John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, LLB, MA, PhD (Cantab), PC, of Lindisfarne in the County of Northumberland and Masooli in the Republic of Uganda; a former Archbishop of York, and former Primate of England and Metropolitan. He practiced Law at the Bar and the Bench as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda.

After fleeing the regime of Idi Amin in 1974, he settled in the UK. He studied theology at Cambridge, where he obtained a Masters’ degree and a Doctorate and was ordained Deacon and Priest on behalf of the Church of Uganda. In his ministry he has always held on to both/and in matters of the State, the work for social justice, the Rule of Law and the dignity and unique worth of every human being in the sight of God.  He has actively played a significant role in responding to racially motivated crimes and injustice. During his time as Bishop for Stepney in the Diocese of London, he served as Advisor to the Stephen Lawrence Murder Judicial Enquiry, and subsequently chaired the Damilola Taylor Murder Review. As Bishop of Birmingham he was active in tackling gangs, guns and knives by bringing hope. In the House of Lords, he has participated in many debates and led a debate on the Living Wage and Income Inequality. Dr Sentamu moved to the North of England in 2005, when he was installed as Archbishop of York.   Serving in that role for 15 years, Dr Sentamu continued to challenge our failure to lift people out of poverty, racism and social justice. He collaborated with the setting up of Acts 435: an online charity supporting people who are struggling financially. He also championed leadership in schools by setting up The Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust, a charity offering leadership development to young people. He served as Chancellor both to York St John University, and the University of Cumbria. He holds honorary Doctorates from many universities in the UK, including Cambridge, the UK, Canada, USA, and the West Indies. His passion is for the Church, as an Embassy of the Reign of God, to make Jesus Christ visible.

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