Dr John Sentamu lays down his crozier on last day as Archbishop of York

Dr John Sentamu laid down his crozier on the high altar of York Minster on Sunday to mark his last day as Archbishop of York.

He was the first black Archbishop in the Church of England and went on to serve in the post for 15 years, having been enthroned in 2005. 

In his last public act of worship as the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu led the Church of England's national online service for Trinity Sunday and was joined by representatives of charities he founded over the last 15 years.

Jenny Herrera, of Acts 435, said the charity had distributed £2 million in small grants to 22,000 people in need since it was founded in 2009.

"We are well placed for such a time as this to meet so many different needs, whether that be a mobile phone for an isolated person living alone, support for someone suddenly out of a job without savings and awaiting Universal Credit, or a tablet to enable a child to keep accessing school learning from home," she said.

"This is alongside the ongoing general needs that people in our country are facing. We have been humbled to see our donors give even more generously at this time."

Dan Finn, from the Archbishop of York Youth Trust, spoke of the 100,000 children who have received Young Leaders Award for volunteering and social action in their communities. 

Contributions to the service also came from the Archbishop's wife, Rev Margaret Sentamu, and newsreader Huw Edwards, who read George Herbert's poem, 'Love Bade Me Welcome'. 

In his sermon, the Archbishop spoke of the power of faith and why it was "common sense" to believe. 

"Believe you me, faith, trust, is not a crutch to lean on. It is the very act of leaning," he said.

"Faith is nothing better than sanctified common sense. It is the most common-sense thing in the world to trust in the incomparable power and majesty of God, in the infinite, unchanging love, and infallible truth of God eloquently portrayed by Prophet Isaiah in our reading.

"To trust anywhere else needs a great deal of justification. But to trust in God needs no apology." 

Dr Sentamu is succeeded by the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, who will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York in a virtual service from York Minster on 9 July.