There were very powerful echoes heard across Britain when its first Black Archbishop was appointed in late 2005. It gave the black communities in particular a sense of pride, victory and hope.

John Sentamu studied Theology in Cambridge in the 1970’s after coming here from Uganda and went on to serve as Chaplain at Selwyn College.

He dedicated his life’s mission upon the death of a very close friend Ugandan Archbishop Janani Luwam and was ordained in 1979. He served 13 years as a vicar in Tulse Hill, raising over one million to restore the churches premises and increasing its congregation.

Following his commitments on the Archbishop’s Commission for Urban Priority Areas and the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns in the 90’s, he continued his evangelism and worked in areas of police and community relations and social justice.

The Archbishop is now stationed in York continuing his life’s purpose alongside his wife Margaret and their two children.