Sentamu here for big week

From New Zealand-

Iconic New Plymouth church St Mary's is about to become a fully fledged cathedral.

And Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will be visiting New Plymouth to join in the celebrations.

The Archbishop is a former Ugandan High Court judge who became the first black Archbishop of York. He is the second most senior Anglican leader.

He fled Uganda in 1974 after he was imprisoned by dictator Idi Amin. In Britain he trained for the Anglican priesthood at Cambridge and began a notable and often controversial career.

The week-long celebrations begin with a powhiri in Auckland on Sunday welcoming the archbishop to New Zealand. His official welcome to Taranaki is on Tuesday at Owae Marae in Waitara where he will be joined by former governor-general Bishop Sir Paul Reeves.

The programme for the Cathedral Inauguration Week includes a mayoral prayer breakfast and a regional leaders' forum. Young people aren't forgotten. Archbishop Sentamu will meet Year 13 students from around Taranaki on Thursday, March 4, following a programme of music, speech and drama.

On Friday, March 5, Dame Malvina Major and Bishop Paul Richardson will host a concert of emerging young Taranaki musicians and singers. Dame Malvina will also perform.

St Mary's will be consecrated as the Taranaki Cathedral in a service that will blend ancient and modern, along with the diverse cultures of the South Pacific.

St Mary's Pro-Cathedral – the pro meaning provisional – will then become Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary.

The Reverend Jamie Allen will become the first Dean of Taranaki.

More here-

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3381541/Sentamu-here-for-big-week