Sunday 14th April 2002

‘As the Primates of the world-wide Anglican Communion meeting here in Canterbury and today celebrating the Risen Lord in this Cathedral, it has been felt that as Senior Primate on their behalf I pay tribute to Archbishop George and Eileen Carey. This will be the last occasion when the Archbishop will worship with his fellow Primates as Archbishop of Canterbury and we wish to make our tribute within the context of divine worship – a privilege we have treasured within our fellowship over the past 11 years of his leadership.

‘George Carey’s ministry to the Primates has helped a growing and diverse global family work, pray, witness and minister to a world longing for peace and justice and new life. Here on this historic site we thank him for his untiring efforts on behalf of us all, for his pastoral visits throughout our world and his strong leadership in the Anglican gatherings of the world. We thank God for his ministry to us as individual Church leaders in times of stress and difficulty in such places as the Sudan and the Middle East. We thank him for his understanding and support. Many things have transpired during his Primacy but surely his abiding legacy to our Communion will be his strengthening our sense of inter-dependence as we attempt in mission and care to proclaim the Resurrection faith to a broken and tired world, but also a world of wonder and beauty.

‘We thank God for the friendship and support Eileen Carey has offered to our Communion alongside Archbishop George. She has exercised her own particular ministry throughout our world and we thank her for all she has done to demonstrate her care and support.

‘As their colleagues in the great ministry of the Church of the Risen Christ we thank them both and we pray that their entire family will enjoy many years of happiness together in the future.’