[ACNS source: Lambeth Palace] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will today (Monday 6th October) preside over the Lambeth Degree award ceremony in Lambeth Palace Chapel. On this occasion he will award five degrees.

The Lambeth Degree is a real academic award. The candidates are exempt from both residential and examination requirements and the special awards are made on merit in recognition of recipients' contribution to religious, academic and public life.

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.

Today’s degrees will be awarded to:

• The Revd Dr Stuart Burgess, in recognition of his significant contribution to ecumenism and in particular to the Anglican Methodist Covenant;
• The Revd Canon Michael Perry, in recognition of his contribution to the study of the ministry of deliverance and his leadership in the Churches' Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies;
• The Revd Donald Reeves, in recognition of his dynamic and distinguished ministry over many years and for his work in founding the Soul of Europe, an inter-faith reconciliation initiative;
• Mr John Ewington, in recognition of his academic contribution to the field of English Church Music and in particular for his work through the Guild of Church Musicians;
• Mr David Shreeve, in recognition of his initiatives as Director of the Conservation Foundation and the influence it has had on the Church's understanding of environmental issues.