Southam vicar becomes a bishop

The Rt Rev Justin Welby, who was Rector of St James’ church, Southam and vicar of Ufton from 1995 to 202, was enthroned as Bishop of Durham on Sunday after being appointed in September.

He went on to become canon residentiary at Coventry Cathedral and co-director for international ministry at the international centre for reconciliation, before becoming sub-dean and Canon for Reconciliation Ministry in 2005 and Dean of Liverpool Cathedral in 2007.

His work at Coventry involved spells in the Middle East and Nigeria, where he was kidnapped more than once.

Church reader Roderick Clark, who travelled to see the enthronement, remembers when Mr Welby was vicar at St James’s church.

He said: “He was a very dynamic, very honest and likeable person.

“He had the drive to introduce changes without alientating the more traditional members of the church.

“As well as being very human and humble he was enormously able.”

Becoming Bishop of Durham, which ranks below the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London is a return to the city for Mr Welby, who trained at Durham University after leaving the oil industry. He will live at Auckland Castle.