Commissions
An Archbishop Like This
BBC
As Rowan Williams takes up his post as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, An Archbishop Like This offers an intimate look at the man who has to unite the broad church of Anglicanism.
Poet, scholar and family man Rowan Williams is known for his skills in bringing people together but, even before he takes over, his views appear to be drawing the Church towards another round of in-fighting.
An Archbishop Like This follows Rowan Williams over a hectic six months as the Church decides who will be the next Archbishop; through to his eventual appointment and preparation for the new position. He talks candidly about his feelings over these turbulent months and discusses his views on the issues splitting the modern Church: “It feels very, very stretching and quite frightening in a way. It could quite easily fall apart into a polarised, unintelligent sort of discussion.”
Narrated by Huw Edwards, the programme observes the Archbishop as he talks with schoolchildren in Wales, lectures at the Hay Festival and travels to a meeting of the world-wide Anglican Communion in Hong Kong. Insights are provided by friends and colleagues that have followed the Archbishop over the years including priest Angela Tilby and journalist and best man Christopher Morgan.
The Archbishop speaks out about how the Church should face the challenges of the twenty-first century from politics, disestablishment and the Anglican hierarchy to the Church and homosexuality: “It seems to me rather sad, and rather revealing, that when it comes to sex we suddenly become much less intelligent about our reading of the Bible.”
Directed by John Geraint Produced by Phil George A Green Bay production for BBC.
