The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, has decided to award fifteen Lambeth Degrees this year.

The Lambeth Degree is not an honorary degree. The candidates, though, do not have to sit an examination: the awards are made in recognition of their contribution to the life of the Church, generally over many years.

The Archbishop will preside over two ceremonies where the degrees will be awarded, in the summer. No ceremony was held last year.

Notes for Editors

The Archbishop of Canterbury's right to grant degrees is derived from Peter's Pence Act of 1533 which empowered the Archbishop to grant dispensations previously granted by the Pope. The practice began during the time when attendance at Oxford and Cambridge, the only universities at that time in England, was frequently disrupted by the difficulty of travel or outbreaks of the plague. The Archbishop was empowered to grant exemption from the residential requirements necessary for a degree.

Lambeth degrees can be awarded in Divinity, Law, Arts, Literature, Medicine and Music.

Those to be awarded degrees are:

The Revd Canon John Fenton MA
DD: In recognition of his distinguished ministry in the Church as a theologian and as a teacher.

The Revd Canon Roger Greenacre
DD: In recognition of the significant contribution that he has made to Anglican-Roman Catholic relations over decades, particularly with the Roman Catholic Church in France and Belgium..

Professor Andrew Linzey
DD: In recognition of his unique and massive pioneering contribution at a scholarly level in the area of the theology of creation, with particular reference to the rights and welfare of God's sentient creatures.

Mrs Anne Screech BA
DD: In recognition of her work as a theologian for the last twenty years, with particular reference to her editorship of the Annotationes of Erasmus, which has contributed to assessing the growth of Erasmus' ideas and the character of his devotion.

Mr Donald Buttress MA
DLitt: In recognition of his service and commitment to Church architecture over a period of 35 years.

Mr Stephen Darlington MA
DMus: In recognition of his important contribution to the role of music in the Church of England for nearly 30 years.

Mr Richard Shephard
DMus: In recognition of his outstanding contribution to church music, especially as a composer who has enriched not only the cathedral repertoire but also the parish scene in providing singable and playable music in a traditional mould.

Mr Brian Hanson CBE
DCL: In recognition of his distinguished and learned contribution in the field of ecclesiastical law to the General Synod of the Church of England as its legal advisor over a period of 30 years, and as a joint registrar of the provinces of Canterbury and York for over 20 years.

Mr Ronald Blythe MA
MLitt: In recognition of his work as a prolific author for nearly 50 years and as a Lay Reader ministering to country parishes in South Suffolk.

Dr Isabel Carter
MLitt: In recognition of her invaluable contribution to the raising of funds and all that was necessary to launch and promote Jubilee 2000.

Mr Martin Dent MA
MLitt: In recognition of his work in linking debt cancellation to the biblical concept of Jubilee, and to the celebration of the new Millennium; also for his tireless work in promoting Jubilee 2000 as a national and international campaign.

Mr Bill Peters MA
MLitt: In recognition of his work as a tireless campaigner for debt cancellation in the poorest countries and his involvement in promoting Jubilee 2000 as an international movement.

Ms Ann Pettifor
MLitt: In recognition of her tireless work for debt cancellation, and in particular as the Director of Jubilee 2000 where she encouraged and promoted the jubilee concept worldwide.

The Very Revd David Leaning
MA: In recognition of his contribution to the fields of spirituality and pastoral care, particularly in the Diocese of Southwell.

The Revd Canon John Moore
MA: In recognition of the outstanding contribution, both administratively and managerially, that he has made to the ministry of the National Church through CPAS and the Diocese in Europe through the work of ICS.

Ms Frances Whitehead
MA: In recognition of her energetic and enthusiastic ministry to God's Church through her dedicated support of Dr John Stott for over 40 years and for her visible Christian witness.