Archbishop urges city to keep faith during hard times
ARCHBISHOP of York John Sentamu has delivered a personal message to Stoke-on-Trent – don't be afraid in times of economic hardship.
The Anglican Church's second most senior cleric, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, joined faith and civic leaders from across the city at a special event last night to celebrate the federation of the six towns 100 years ago.
Ugandan-born Dr Sentamu, who was the country's first black archbishop, was guest speaker at the King's Hall event organised to highlight the contribution of faith to the area over the past 100 years.
Addressing around 250 guests, he said: "Great people of this city may I be with you to banish fear.
"Fear has a crippling effect more than anything else. We will not be afraid."
Dr Sentamu, who was enthroned as the 97th Archbishop of York in 2005, spoke about the importance of finding strength in God during difficult times.
He said that with forthcoming government cuts, it was important to be a good Samaritan to those who in need.
Dr Sentamu, who regularly speaks out in opposition to racism and slavery, particularly in his native Uganda, also reminded guests of the city's historic intolerance of racism.
Referring to Josiah's Wedgwood's campaign against slavery and his production of the anti-slavery medallion, he said: "This city has never stood for racism. Never stood for discrimination."
Dr Sentamu said Stoke-on-Trent was part of "the country's great heritage" and encouraged residents to look to its successes in the past to build its future.
He said: "If you forget your past you will become senile.
"When we build for the future we must do it not with blind optimism but from what we have learned from the past."
Dr Sentamu also spoke generally about the importance of local government in preventing dictatorship and his intention to oppose anything in David Cameron's 'Big Society' initiative that would undermine local authority.
Speaking of forthcoming Government spending cuts, he said: "If they fall on the most vulnerable communities, we cannot be silent, we must speak out."
Lloyd Cooke, chief executive of the Saltbox Christian Centre, in Hanley, said he had been working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to organise an appropriate faith event for centenary celebrations.
He said: "The inspiration for the Archbishop's visit came from Archbishop Desmond Tutu's successful visit in 2008.
"When we were thinking about federation celebrations, we wanted it to be significant event which would celebrate faith contributions to the city.
"We wanted the guest speaker to be an outstanding intellectual faith figure comparable to Archbishop Tutu.
"It was suggested that the Archbishop of York was a similarly charismatic, passionate figure."
Bishop David McGough, the Auxiliary Catholic Bishop with responsibility for Staffordshire, said it was an honour for the area to receive such an important person.
He said: "He shows great concern for the poor and at a time when things are changing so much in Stoke-on-Trent because of the recession, his voice needs to be heard."
Staffordshire University's vice-chancellor Professor Christine King said: "He is a great teacher not just in the church but in showing us how to become more progressive in communities in Stoke-on-Trent and build for the future.
"He is a symbol of what we are trying to achieve and a bit of a superstar."
Christian historian Robert Mountford spoke at the event about hope for the future coming from Stoke-on-Trent's past.
He spoke of the innovators and entrepreneurs who have come from the area and their role in coming up with new ways of thinking in the pottery industry and science.
Councillor Denver Tolley, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said: "We live in a multicultural city that embraces all faiths, and we hope Dr Sentamu has had the chance to learn all about Stoke-on-Trent and its wonderful people."
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7 Comments
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 1:30PM
“QUOTE: Be less eager to pass judgement on others and spend some time looking at your own motivation, are all your motives pure???? Good day to you.
denepher smith, Hanley
Typical -pompous 'supernaturalist' -using diversion tactics to steer away from the issues, and wandering off into the universe and talking of 'cosmic chanced events.
The 'religious mouthpiece' from York -comes down here to Stoke to help us face our adversities brought on by the crisis of capitalism -poor us, 'we haven't got a job, we can't go on holiday, we have to buy our clothes from charity shops, we can't afford to watch our football team...' -Whilst back in his motherland -Africa, millions face hardships to a degree which make our paltry problems as 'living in sheer luxury'.
This bloke has been 'conned' by the Bishops and 'lost souls of Christianity' -the supernaturalists, to abandon those folk so as to, instead, give so called succour to the much much more luckier folk of England, compared to the oppressed and starving in his ¿homeland¿ of Africa. Prestige before Humanity..
What a joke! And you fall for it. My motivations are thus ¿not ¿dreamin¿ of heaven¿.”
by denepher smith, Hanley
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 7:00AM
“I have no doubts that people can live a worthwhile life by adhering to sound moral principles. I also have no doubt that humans have the strength and resources within themselves to survive great adversity, my ancestors have had to. The difference is whether you attribute these resources merely to yourself or acknowledge that you did not bring yourself ( or your ancestors themselves) into being. As you, Mr Penning , are happy to attribute all to a cosmic chanced event and deal only with the here and now, you have no need to look beyond. You live, with your resources of thought and reason and you have concluded, there is no God. I live in the here and now, with my resources and looking back and forward I have reasoned there is a God . As I understand and respect your reasoning, ( and that of the famed Prof Dawkins) do me the courtesy of respecting mine and others who reason differently from yourselves. Be less eager to pass judgement on others and spend some time looking at your own motivation, are all your motives pure???? Good day to you.”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Sunday, July 25 2010, 2:34PM
“Yet another reminder from a 'religious mouthpiece' -that only a supernatural stance can help one to face adversity, be it financial or whatever.
It's the arrogance that gives me the creeps. The idea that only those with a religious belief will survive.
Re his comments on Slavery, does he not know that the Slavery is 'alive and well' in Africa, where in Niger, the tradition is endemic in their culture, and the UN Reports that there are still up to a million African Slaves in that country, even though the practice, has, through International pressure, been 'outlawed by the Government, in the main it still flourishes -the Government to some extent in 'cahoots' with the practice -owing to family pressures to keep to this 'economic family subsistence'.
Slavery is ingrained in the culture.... as is child female circumcision in other parts of Africa -mainly in East Africa.
Sentamu would be much more admired if he did more, spoke more, on the above extreme forms of abuse -African on African.
Too me he's motivated, as are other religious leaders I could mention in this city, with attaining social position and personal grandeur than being genuinely concerned with the problems that affect the real poor and oppressed of the world.”
by Denepher smith, Hanley
Sunday, July 25 2010, 8:29AM
“@The hell and Clive, As a lunatic I find it satisfying to talk to my Imaginary friend quiet frequently. Has given me a lot of help over the years, perspective on life. Quite demanding , my friend. Demands of me truth, integrity, honesty with myself first and foremost, Not at all the easiest of friends but I have found the best. Though I know it would be easier to give it up, I am sold on my lunacy!”
by magneto, shelton
Saturday, July 24 2010, 7:31PM
“"When we build for the future we must do it not with blind optimism but from what we have learned from the past." Fair do's. Let's all read some Arnold Bennett and learn from this area's past. First thing will be that things have to actually 'add up'. Honour and integrity paramount. Debt means jail. St Modwen meant something entirely different. We actually 'made' something that was held in high regard the world over. Not the 'take the money and run' we have now. Soapbox climbed down from - sorry, couldn't resist.”
by CLIVE, Endon
Saturday, July 24 2010, 1:06PM
“sounds like a load of useless hot air to me . Never had alot of time to listen to people who talk to imaginary friends ,but then again Stoke voted labour and Blair for 3 electons so who knows maybe they like that sort of thing .”
by the, hell
Saturday, July 24 2010, 12:18PM
“yawn, do people still listen to these lunatics ?”