wfn.org | ACNS3606 Archbishop of Canterbury awards Lambeth Degrees

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3606     |     LAMBETH PALACE     |     6 OCTOBER 2003 

Archbishop of Canterbury awards Lambeth Degrees

[ACNS source: Lambeth Palace] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan
Williams, will today (Monday 6th October) preside over the Lambeth
Degree award ceremony in Lambeth Palace Chapel. On this occasion he will
award five degrees.

The Lambeth Degree is a real academic award. The candidates are exempt
from both residential and examination requirements and the special
awards are made on merit in recognition of recipients' contribution to
religious, academic and public life.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's right to grant degrees is derived from
Peter's Pence Act of 1533, which empowered the Archbishop to grant
dispensations previously granted by the Pope. The practice began during
the time when attendance at Oxford and Cambridge - the only universities
at that time in England - was frequently disrupted by the difficulty of
travel or outbreaks of the plague. The Archbishop was empowered to grant
exemption from the residential requirements necessary for a degree.

Lambeth degrees can be awarded in Divinity, Law, Arts, Literature,
Medicine and Music.

Today's degrees will be awarded to:

* The Revd Dr Stuart Burgess, in recognition of his significant
contribution to ecumenism and in particular to the Anglican Methodist
Covenant; 

* The Revd Canon Michael Perry, in recognition of his contribution to
the study of the ministry of deliverance and his leadership in the
Churches' Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies; 

* The Revd Donald Reeves, in recognition of his dynamic and
distinguished ministry over many years and for his work in founding the
Soul of Europe, an inter-faith reconciliation initiative; 

* Mr John Ewington, in recognition of his academic contribution to the
field of English Church Music and in particular for his work through the
Guild of Church Musicians; 

* Mr David Shreeve, in recognition of his initiatives as Director of the
Conservation Foundation and the influence it has had on the Church's
understanding of environmental issues.

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