From Dagenham to Debenhams: Carey steps down

At least it wasn't a fondu set. The question of what to give the Archbishop of Canterbury on his retirement had clearly provoked furious head-scratching. In the end they played it safe. When George Carey stepped from the pulpit of Dagenham Parish Church yesterday, after giving his final sermon as Archbishop, he was presented with Debenhams vouchers.

The vicar, the Rev Mike Reith, refused to reveal how much had been put into the hat. "We were going to give him a picture of the church, but he said he had two already. He suggested Debenhams vouchers because Eileen [his wife] would be able to use them," he said.

Dr Carey, who formally retires on Thursday, had returned to the east London church where he had found God, been baptised and confirmed, and met and married his wife. A vast sign by the road said: "We wish a happy and fruitful retirement to the Archbishop of Dagenham".

Not that Mr Reith, a former merchant banker who normally delivers his sermons using PowerPoint, would extend such warmth to Dr Carey's successor, Rowan Williams, known for his liberal stance on homosexual clergy. "I wish he'd recognise the authority of the Bible in showing us how to live," said the vicar. "When it discourages sexual relationships outside its remit it does so only out of love for its people. I think I would wish that unless he changes his mind on certain issues he would consider whether or not to take up that position."

Before the service Dr Carey used an interview with David Frost on BBC1 to warn Tony Blair not to attack Iraq. "We must pursue all diplomatic and political means," he said.

But he avoided such controversy in his final sermon. He spoke of the effect God had on those who welcomed him into their lives, making them "giving", "forgiving" and "living" people. Over the past 11 and a half years, he and his wife had visited about 90 countries, he said. "We've seen starving people in Sudan and the wretchedness of war in Rwanda. We've seen everything." What excited the couple, he said, was meeting people who had been transformed by God.

Dr Carey also thanked the church for leading him to God. "I didn't come from a church-going family and this church made Christians of our entire family and that's why I have come here to repay a debt. To come home."

Afterwards, the Archbishop, who will be retiring to Bristol, said the service had been emotional. "I don't think I'm going to retire, really, I'm just going to do different things. There are a lot of things I want to pursue, especially in the inter-faith direction ..." He said he wanted to spend more time with his family, whom he felt he had neglected over the past 12 years. He also praised his successor as a "good friend."

Many in Dagenham will never forget the "boy done good", in particular Jim Doughty, landlord of the Cross Keys, not far from the church.

Mr Doughty, a non-churchgoer, had a plaque made for the pub's new extension saying, in more polite terms, The Archbishop of Canterbury, woz 'ere, and persuaded Dr Carey to unveil it.

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