The Archbishop of Canterbury has appointed the Revd Andrew Wheeler as his Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs.

Mr Wheeler's previous career has been mainly spent in Africa with the Church Mission Society.

From 1977 to 1986 he taught at the Bishop Gwynne Theological College (Sudan), before returning to the UK to train for the ministry at Trinity Theological College, Bristol.

He was ordained in 1988 and after a short curacy at Aldbourne in the Diocese of Salisbury, he returned to Africa, again through the Church Mission Society, as Curate for the English Speaking congregation at All Saints Cathedral, Cairo.

In 1992 he moved to Nairobi where he joined the staff of the Sudan Council of Churches as Co-ordinator for Theological Training. Since 1996, he has been involved in widespread research and writing on the history and contemporary experience of the Church in Sudan, on which a number of books have already been published. The work will culminate in the publication of a major textbook on Sudanese Church History (co-authored with William Anderson and Roland Werner) entitled "Day of Devastation, Day of Contentment - the history of the Sudanese Church over 2000 years".

Mr Wheeler is fifty two and married to Sue, who has been involved in ministry at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi. They have two children, Clare (16) and Mark (10).

Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Wheeler said: "Around the world the Anglican Communion is caught up in many great issues. For the Church these include the renewal of its vision for mission, the relief of those trapped in poverty and communal reconciliation. I look forward to supporting the Archbishop in his complex task of leadership in such a world."

Mr Wheeler expects to take up his appointment in September 2000. He succeeds Revd Canon Andrew Deuchar who has been appointed Rector of Saint Peter with Saint James, Nottingham.

Item from: Lambeth Palace