Sentamu's chances for Canterbury slimmer

By Raymond Baguma & Agencies

Dr. John Sentamu’s chances to become the head of the Church of England have become slimmer.

By yesterday, the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), which is tasked with electing the next Archbishop of Canterbury, had failed to reach a decision on a successor of Rowan Williams. Archbishop Rowan Williams retires in December this year.

Sentamu’s chances appeared to get narrower when it became apparent that the commission electing the successor had come up with a list of two names, which did not include Dr. Sentamu (Archbishop of York) and Richard Chartres (Bishop of London).

The final list bears the names of Dr. Graham James, 61, the Bishop of Norwich and Dr. Justin Welby, 56, the Bishop of Durham.

However, both candidates had previously said they were not interested in heading the Church.

The commission is also divided over the candidature of the two, both of whom are not considered as outstanding candidates by insiders.

According to insiders, Dr. Sentamu, 63, may be popular and charismatic, but could be lacking diplomatic skills which are required to occupy Lambeth Palace, which is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The normal practice is that the 16-member commission meets in private and thereafter sends the names of the winner and the first runner-up to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

The prime minister in-turn sends the winner’s name to the Queen before an announcement is made.

According to media reports in the UK, the CNC has not agreed on the name of the runner-up, while Dr. Welby is seen as the most likely number one choice.