Anglican Leader Attacks Pomp, Circumstance

LONDON —  The new archbishop of Canterbury has launched a surprise attack on what he sees as the pomp and circumstance of the establishment within the Church of England, which he views as “profoundly anti-Christian.”

Rowan Williams, who describes himself as a “gloomy Celt” who prefers to dress in plain black rather than full episcopal regalia, said in a BBC documentary to be aired Sunday that the trappings of power and status do not reflect traditional Gospel values.

“The Anglican Church has bought very deeply into status,” Williams said. “It’s one of the most ambiguous elements in the whole of that culture. There’s something profoundly -- I’ll say it -- anti-Christian in all of that. It’s about guarding position, about fencing yourself in,” he said.