This week in Christian history: John Sumner becomes Canterbury archbishop, anti-Soviet activist arrested, Catherine of Siena dies
John Bird Sumner enthroned as archbishop of Canterbury – April 28, 1848
This week marks the anniversary of when John Bird Sumner, a Church of England bishop and member of Parliament, was enthroned as the archbishop of Canterbury.
Born in Kenilworth and educated at Eton, Sumner was ordained in 1803 and then consecrated bishop of Chester in 1828, serving in the role until his election to Canterbury.
A self-identified Evangelical, Sumner opposed the Oxford Movement, which sought to return the denomination to a more Catholic-leaning stance and curb the influence of Protestantism.
“Despite the strength of his evangelical convictions, he acted upon them without any prejudice to opponents or any undue bias to friends,” wrote William Prideaux Courtney in 1898.
“His moderation in tone made him at times suspected of a want of strength. Bishop Wilberforce spoke of his speech at the Mansion House for a church society as ‘like himself, good, gentle, loving, and weak.’”
