The name of the new Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh will be announced in Dublin on January 10th. He will replace one of Ireland's foremost churchmen, Archbishop Robin Eames (69), who retires tomorrow.
His successor will be elected from among the 11 remaining Church of Ireland bishops in a ballot involving only themselves.
Archbishop of Armagh and Church of Ireland Primate of All-Ireland since February 1986, Dr Eames played a pivotal role in maintaining the unity of his church through difficult times during the Troubles, not least the Drumcree years.
The Church of Ireland is unique among Irish churches in that its membership includes significant numbers who are nationalist in allegiance as well as a majority in the North who are unionist.
Internationally Dr Eames has been central to maintaining the unity of the 70 million international Anglican Communion, through his chairmanship of the 1988-1989 Eames Commission on women bishops, the 1991 Virginia Report on maintaining unity in diversity and the 2003-2004 Windsor Report, set up following the consecration of actively gay man Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.
In Armagh he has had good relationships with his Catholic counterparts, Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, Cardinal Cahal Daly, and latterly Archbishop Seán Brady. He also played an important role in the peace process, helping to bring about loyalist ceasefires.
Politically he developed "a very good relationship with John Major, who is still a friend, and Albert [ Reynolds]", he has said.
