Ulster cleric's prayers for Archbishop of Canterbury after paternity shock

A leading Church of Ireland figure has offered his support and prayers for Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, after the Englishman confirmed that his father was not the man he had believed.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has won wide praise for his reaction to the newsThe Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has won wide praise for his reaction to the news
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has won wide praise for his reaction to the news

The Most Rev Welby, who believed his father was Gavin Welby, said on Friday it was “a complete surprise” to find through DNA evidence that his father is the late Sir Anthony Montague Browne – Sir Winston Churchill’s last private secretary.

In a statement he said: “I know that I find who I am in Jesus Christ, not in genetics, and my identity in him never changes.”

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His mother, Lady Williams of Elvel, 86, described the revelation as “an almost unbelievable shock”, but added she recalls going to bed with Sir Anthony “fuelled by a large amount of alcohol on both sides”.

The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop WelbyThe Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop Welby
The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop Welby

The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Lurgan-born Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, told the News Letter: “The Archbishop of Canterbury has shown great dignity and grace in receiving the news about his parentage especially in the face of such a degree of public attention becoming focused on what is, at heart, a very personal set of family circumstances. He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers as they adjust to these revelations.

“Archbishop Justin’s stress on the power of redemption and on the pre-eminence of the identity which he, like all believers, has in Christ gets to the very heart and hope of the Christian gospel. I trust that this conviction will give him strength and support at a very difficult time for him and his family.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and the UK’s most senior Catholic cleric, tweeted that he was praying for the Archbishop and his mother and said: “Our life in Christ matters most of all.”

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The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, told BBC Radio 5 live that the Archbishop took the DNA test thinking it would be disproved, and commended his “maturity”.

Justin Welby's mother Lady Williams of ElvelJustin Welby's mother Lady Williams of Elvel
Justin Welby's mother Lady Williams of Elvel

He said: “For the Archbishop I think of course it is a surprise but he is dealing with it, I talked to him quite a lot last week, he is dealing with it with his usual maturity.

“His identity is secure, he feels the same person that he was three weeks ago.

“It’s intriguing but he finds himself in the position of many other people who discover their father is rather different from the person they thought.”

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Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, from Maidenhead Synagogue, told the Sunday Telegraph that the Archbishop had set a “good example” of how to deal with unexpected news.

The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop WelbyThe Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop Welby
The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, offered prayers and support to Archbishop Welby

He said: “The news does not affect his personal identity in any way – he is who he has become – nor does it lessen his authority as Archbishop.”

Bishop Anba Angaelos, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, quoted a long passage from the Archbishop’s statement on his website saying it was “very moving” and “indicative of the peace, love, forgiveness and resolve that we are not only all called to, but all endowed with if we but allow God’s healing, reconciling and comforting presence in our lives”.

He added: “These revelations would have been startling and painful enough for any individual and his family to learn and process, but to have them revealed and discussed so publicly will need a very particular grace.”

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It has emerged that the Archbishop hinted at the revelations that were to come while on a trip to Zambia for a youth conference last week.

Justin Welby's mother Lady Williams of ElvelJustin Welby's mother Lady Williams of Elvel
Justin Welby's mother Lady Williams of Elvel

He had discovered the news himself while visiting a playgroup in Sittingbourne, Kent, on the Wednesday before Easter.

On Thursday – a day before the news was announced – he met 50 young Anglicans from across southern Africa and told them: “We need to be a church where I am who I am because I am in Jesus Christ.

“That’s the only thing that gives me identity and you will see why I am saying that in a couple of days’ time.”

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The Daily Telegraph reported that biological family members had for some time noted the uncanny resemblance between Archbishop Welby and his true father, the late Sir Anthony Montague Browne, who served Churchill in Downing Street and during his retirement.

After the newspaper discussed its research with the Archbishop, he decided to take a DNA test.

The results showed a 99.9779 per cent probability that they were father and son.

Hairs were taken from the hairbrush of Anthony Montague Browne which had been kept by his widow. The news gave Lambeth Palace cause to check canon law as illegitimate men were barred from becoming archbishops until a law change in the 1950s.

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In January Archbishop Welby spoke on reconciliation in a Church of Ireland theological lecture at Queen’s University Belfast, encouraging the packed Elmwood Hall audience to focus their hearts on the matter.

In November he celebrated 50 years of peacemaking by the Corrymeela Community at a service in St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. The head of the Worldwide Anglican Communion was joined by a range of other church leaders.

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