RETIREMENT OF DR LANG

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 6

RETIREMENT OF DR LANG

REASONS FOR STEP (8.0.W.) RUGBY, January 21. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Cosmo Lang), in announcing to the Synod that his resignation had been approved by the King, said: “I have come to the decision that it is my duty to resign from the high office which I hold. It may well be that some explanation of my resignation is required. I am thankful to say that my bodily health is excellent, and I am not conscious of any serious diminution of such powers as I may have possessed. It is true that at my age it is inevitable I should feel more tired than I used to be by my pressure of duties and responsibilities, and not the least by my unceasing correspondence—a pressure which none can realize but the man who has to bear it.

“In spite of this, in ordinary times, I might have been able to continue my work for a few years longer. But times are not ordinary. We are passing through the greatest crisis this country has had to meet in all its long history. The times demand, for those who have any responsibilities of leadership, ardour, vigour and decisiveness of mind and spirit, which cannot be expected of a man who is in his 77th year, and who has for 33 years borne the burden of the office of Archbishop, for 20 years Archbishop of York and for the last 13 years Archbishop of Canterbury.” Continuing the Archbishop said that perhaps the chief reason for his decision was that when the war was over there would be great tasks of reconstruction which must begin now. It was clear that this preparation should be the work of those who would have the responsibility of undertaking the tasks. He deemed it his duty to hand over the charge to somebody who would better be able to prepare those post-war plans. \ He referred to the Lambeth Conference, which would have to meet as soon as the war ended. That conference would meet in a new world. It might have a momentous influence in determining the place of the Church in that new world. The man, who presided over that conference, should make preparations for it. He could not be that man, because, if the conference met as early as 1944 he would then be 80 years old. The Archbishop said he had no desire to escape from the burdens of office or the claims and calls on his time.

“I cannot close without adding, in all sincerity, that, in thus laying down my life’s work, I am overwhelmed by the thought that so few of my hopes and so little for the good of the Church and the people have been accomplished,” Dr Lang concluded. KING’S REGRET The King received with great regret the intimation from the Archbishop of Canterbury that he was desirous of resigning his high office. His Majesty, on the recommendation of Mr Churchill, has by Royal warrant appointed a commission consisting of the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop of Winchester for the purpose of receiving the resignation. The commission reported its acceptance of the Archbishop’s resignation to take effect from. March 31, and this has been approved by his Majesty. Dr Lang has been Archbishop of Canterbury since July 1928, when he succeeded the late Archbishop Davidson.

The Archbishop of Canterbury made the announcement that he was retiring in the College Hall attached to Westminster Abbey. The Bishop of London expressed the bishops’ regret at his retirement, “which was heard with something akin to dismay.” Dean Norwich voiced the regret of the clergy.