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Founding Patron

The University of Winchester is proud to announce that the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu is the Founding Patron of its new Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace.

“We are delighted that the Archbishop has agreed to become our Founding Patron,” commented Dr Brian Walker, Director of the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace. “In recent years, the Archbishop has not accepted patronages, save in the most exceptional of circumstances – so it is a particular honour that he has decided to accept our invitation.”

Whether encouraging religions to be part of the solution for changing the gang culture of Croxteth, or launching the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security, Dr Sentamu has a passion for his work that is second to none. His high profile advocacy for reconciliation in the Horn of Africa, peace in the Middle East and human rights in Zimbabwe, will also add welcome authority to the Centre’s international work for reconciliation and peace.

Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York said: “The cross which I wear around my neck bears the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero. The words read: ‘peace will flower when love and justice pervade our environment’. It is my hope that the work of the Centre will help bring about that environment.”

The Archbishop, born into Uganda's Buffalo clan, is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Primate of England and Metropolitan, a member of the House of Lords and a Privy Councillor. He was appointed Bishop for Stepney in 1996, Bishop for Birmingham in 2002 and Archbishop of York in 2005. He is Primate of England and Metropolitan, a member of the House of Lords and a Privy Councillor, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace, based at the University of Winchester, is helping to create a free, just and peaceful world. It aims to do this by sharing excellence in knowledge, understanding, skills, relationships, and best practice in reconciliation and peace, with people of all religions and those who have no faith. The Centre will be officially launched in early summer 2010.