One of the worlds most famous cathedrals St Paul's, London, has bestowed on the Revd Canon John L Peterson, an honorary canonry. Canon Peterson was admitted as Canon during Evensong on 29 January, 2001.

The service was sung by the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. The Rt Revd John Sentamu, Bishop of Stepney, Diocese of London, presided and the Dean of St Paul's, the Very Revd John Moses, escorted the new canon to his stall in the quire.

In his opening remarks, Dean Moses, a member of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) for the Church of England, said, "Right Reverend Father in God, one of the ways in which we can acknowledge the wider ministry of the Cathedral is to confer upon the Revd Canon John Peterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, an Honorary Canonry of this Cathedral Church."

Canon Peterson responded, "Christian people throughout the world worship the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I affirm and declare my belief in the faith which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the historic Creeds. I declare my resolve to take my place as an Honorary Canonry in our Cathedral in London and to conduct myself in this church at all times according to the Constitution established for the said Church and its approved use and customs."

More people are exposed to Anglicanism in places like St Paul Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey than anywhere else.

The Cathedral bulletin says, in part, "We welcome you to this historical Cathedral in the heart of London. There has been a place of Christian worship here since AD604. The services are according to the rites of the Church of England, which is one of the members of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and part of the universal Church."

In response to his admission as an Honorary Canon, the ACC Secretary General said, "I am deeply honoured to have this canonry on behalf of the Anglican Communion and its ministry. St Paul's has become, over recent years, a centre of true Christian welcome and hospitality, not to mention liturgy and music. For our office to be now officially part of this community is a great privilege indeed and an opportunity to share our global story with even more people."

The Standing Committee of the ACC and the Primates recently voted to extend Canon's Peterson contract until the end of 2003.

By Siphiwe Sithole
Intern, Anglican Communion Communications, London