A cleric who worked on the inquiry into one of Britain's most notorious racist murders was named today as the country's first black archbishop.
Ugandan-born John Sentamu, who trained as a lawyer before coming to Britain, takes over as archbishop of York from David Hope, who quit the second highest post in the Church of England to become a parish priest again.
Dr Sentamu (56) is bishop of Birmingham, Britain's second largest city which has a sizeable ethnic community.
Aware of the Anglican Church's battle for survival in an increasingly secular society, Sentamu said: "It is imperative that the church regains her vision and confidence."
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the world's 77 million Anglicans, welcomed Dr Sentamu's appointment and praised his efforts to combat racism.
Dr Sentamu has worked with two inquiries into notorious London murders - the 1993 racist killing of teenager Stephen Lawrence and the stabbing of Nigerian schoolboy Damilola Taylor in 2000.