Archbishop first Chancellor of York St John University

The Archbishop will be installed at a ceremony in March 2007 at York Minster in front of an audience of staff, students and partners from across the region and beyond.

As Chancellor, Dr John Sentamu will be the ceremonial head of the University and will serve as a source of wise counsel to the institution. He will be the very first Chancellor of the University.

John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu graduated in Law from Makerere University, Kampala and is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda. He practised Law both at the Bar and at the Bench before he came to the UK in 1974. He read Theology at Selwyn College Cambridge where he gained a Masters Degree and a Doctorate, before training for ordination at Ridley Hall Cambridge.

Following his ordination Dr Sentamu served many communities across England as Chaplain, Vicar and Priest, later being appointed Bishop for Stepney in 1996, Bishop for Birmingham in 2002 and Archbishop of York in 2005. He is a Primate of England and Metropolitan, a member of the House of Lords and a Privy Councillor.

Professor Dianne Willcocks, Vice Chancellor designate of York St John is thrilled that the Archbishop will step into this crucial role. She says:

"The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu has been a pillar of support to York St John since his appointment as Archbishop in 2005, and was to us an obvious choice for the position of Chancellor, as someone who is incredibly well respected nationally and internationally for the great work that he does within the Church of England and in the charitable projects in which he participates.

"His forward-thinking outlook is recognised and supported wholeheartedly by the Board of Governors of York St John and myself, and is representative of the attitude we have at our institution. We believe the Archbishop will be an excellent Chancellor for our institution."

Welcoming the announcement of his appointment, Dr Sentamu says:

"This is an exciting time for York St John and I am delighted to be asked to be Chancellor when the institution becomes a University in October 2006.

York St John has been offering excellence in education for over 150 years, and its gaining of University status is a due recognition of its achievements.

The University will be a bright symbol of the wider Church's continuing contribution to educational services in a society of all faiths and none."

The Installation of the Chancellor in 2007 will take place almost 6 months after the launch of the UK's newest University, in the first week of October 2006.