TWO long-standing contributors to the Church Times — the Revd Dr Malcolm Guite and Canon Mark Oakley — are among the 33 recipients of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lambeth Awards 2023, which recognise outstanding contributions to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and wider society.
Dr Guite and Canon Oakley were each presented with the Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace on Thursday afternoon.
Dr Guite’s citation said that the award was “for his outstanding multifaceted promotion of the Gospels through poetry, public speaking, and scholarship”. Canon Oakley’s was “for writing, speaking, leading conferences, study days and retreats, and being in huge demand for helping church people and those not of faith to understand the relationship between poetry and faith.”
Dr Guite, a Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge, where he was chaplain for 17 years, writes the Poet’s Corner column, and has spoken at numerous Church Times events, including the Festival of Faith and Literature and the Festival of Poetry. Dr Oakley, the Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge, and Canon Theologian of Wakefield Cathedral, has contributed to the paper for the past 25 years, including a regular Diary column; he has also been a regular speaker at events such as the literary and poetry festivals.
Other recipients included the investment banker Ken Costa, Chairman Emeritus of Alpha International, who was awarded the Canterbury Cross for Services to the Church of England, “for his outstanding contributions to the Church of England, not least in chairing the Lambeth Trust” for eight years, during which time more than £9 million was raised to fund Archbishop Welby’s ministry priorities.
Canon Malcolm Rogers, was awarded the Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism, “for outstanding achievements as Chaplain of St Andrew’s Church Moscow and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Apkrisiarios to the Patriarch of Moscow”.
The Revd Mark Nam, the founder of the Tea House, a national network of C of E clergy of Chinese heritage (News, 20 August 2021), received the Langton Award for Community Service, “for his outstanding contribution to raising the profile and participation of Chinese-heritage clergy and communities in the Church of England and commitment to serving the overseas Chinese diaspora, in particular those settling in the United Kingdom from Hong Kong”.
Canon John Kafwanka, a former director for mission for the Anglican Consultative Council, was awarded the Cross of St Augustine for Services to the Anglican Communion “for his outstanding leadership in the Anglican Communion”.
Dr Amy Orr-Ewing, a theologian and apologist, received the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness, “for exceptional dedication, skill and insight in advocating for the good news of Jesus Christ and unflinching commitment that the church embodies the truth and grace of which it speaks”.
Archbishop Welby said on Thursday: “Many of the people who have received awards today have worked unseen and unsung, striving for justice, peace, reconciliation, advances in education, worship and prayer. Not all are followers of Jesus Christ, but, through their endeavours, they have made significant contributions to the mutual respect and maintenance of human dignity, which is so vital to spiritual and social health and the flourishing of mankind. The Lambeth Awards shine a light on their outstanding efforts and dedication.”
The full list of recipients is here