The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, preached at the enthronement service of the Rt. Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi as the next Archbishop of Burundi Sunday, July 17, during a four-day visit to the Church of the Province of Burundi.
The visit was at the invitation of the retiring Primate, the Most Rev. Samuel Ndayisenga, Archbishop of Burundi, and is the first time an Archbishop of Canterbury has visited the Province.
During his trip the Archbishop will be meeting leaders from the church, various agencies and government officials in the capital city, Bujumbura, and he will also travel to the rural Diocese of Matana where he will preach and visit a school, a hospital and a theological institute.
Dr. Williams's visit coincides with a significant stage in the rebuilding of Burundi following years of civil strife and, as part of his trip, the Archbishop will also spend some time at the Kamenge Quarter of Bujumbura, an area of the capital city that experienced significant conflict and where the church is now making a key contribution to rebuilding.
Speaking ahead of his trip, Dr. Williams said, "I am looking forward to sharing in this important moment in the life of the Church in Burundi and in particular to experiencing first hand the Church's contribution to reconstruction and development following such troubled years for the country."
Dr. Williams is being accompanied by Jane Williams, the Rev. Andrew Norman, secretary for international, ecumenical and Anglican Communion affairs, the Rev. David Peck, secretary for international development, Sarah Williams, the Archbishop's press officer, and Canon James Rosenthal, director of communications for the Anglican Communion.
