Archbishop denies Canterbury tale

Archbishop Sentamu does not shy away from controversy

The Archbishop of York has dismissed newspaper gossip that he wants to take over as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The idea was raised after his attack on British Airways in the row over workers wearing crosses and his comments in the debate over Muslim women and veils.

John Sentamu brushed aside speculation he was after Dr Rowan Williams' job in an interview with BBC Radio York on the first anniversary of his inauguration.

He said: "I'm doing my job, he's doing his and we're such a formidable pair."

He said he had "an unbreakable bond" with Dr Williams, and went on: "I wouldn't have a better colleague than him."

'Won't work'

He said now that the speculation over Gordon Brown taking over as Prime Minister from Tony Blair had subsided, the mood amongst newspaper columnists was, "so let's start another Sentamu row.

"Sorry, mate, it ain't like that. And it won't work!"

He told the radio station: "So when I hear 'Archbishop of Canterbury-in-waiting' and people proud of me being in Yorkshire - I mean, they should just say I'm doing my job, he's doing his and we're such a formidable pair."

Dr Sentamu, Britain's second most senior Church of England cleric, has not avoided controversy in his first year in office.

In addition to participating in the BA crosses and Muslim veils debates, he also held a week-long vigil for peace, "camping out" in York Minister, and wrote to the heads of firms planning to make hundreds redundant in the city, voicing his fears.

He also famously deliberately wore a hoodie when he addressed a meeting of young people to show his empathy with them.

The country's first black archbishop, Dr Sentamu was a former judge and outspoken critic of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin before fleeing his homeland.