Wakefield Cathedral’s Canon Theologian, Dr Mark Oakley, has received a prestigious award from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mark was at Lambeth Palace for a special ceremony to receive the Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship, which is one of the annual Lambeth Awards made to individuals by the Archbishop of Canterbury in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and wider society.
The citation for Mark’s award said that it was for his 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.
Speaking afterwards Mark said: “I am very honoured and humbled to receive this award from the Archbishop of Canterbury and to find myself amongst remarkable recipients from around the world.
“I am delighted the award recognises the value of poetry, in life, society, and faith. Such an art of attention and resonance is urgently needed in our present days. It was wonderful to explore this truth in Wakefield Cathedral just a few weeks ago with a really engaged and thoughtful audience from around the Diocese.”
The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Simon Cowling, said “Mark is a wonderful resource for Wakefield Cathedral and for the Diocese of Leeds, and I am delighted that his work has been recognised in this way”.