By Matthew Davies
An East African welcome met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, upon his arrival February 13 in Tanzania, as two young members of Dar es Salaam’s St. Mary’s Church, Naomi and Frank, were waiting at the airport to present him with an ebony crucifix and a garland made from local flowers.
Williams, who was accompanied by the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, will chair the February 15-19 Primates’ Meeting at the White Sands Hotel in Jangwani Beach near Dar es Salaam.
Also waiting to embrace Williams on behalf of the Anglican Church of Tanzania was its Primate, Archbishop Donald Mtetemela, and Tanzania’s deputy minister for foreign affairs greeted him and other Primates as they arrived in the nation’s largest city.
Addressing media that had gathered for his arrival, Williams asked for prayers as the Primates embark on their five-day meeting, and spoke of his gratitude to Tanzania’s Anglican Church and to Mtetemela for helping to organize the local logistics.
Mtetemela said he was honored the Anglican Primates were meeting in his province for the first time.
The Anglican Church of Canada is represented by Archbishop Andrew Hutchison.
Matthew Davies is international correspondent for the Episcopal News Service.
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