Archbishop Tutu to visit Mirfield; Outstanding cleric will lay foundation stone.

Byline: HAZEL ETTIENNE

ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu is to visit Mirfield's College of the Resurrection next month.

The outstanding religious leader and campaigner will lay a foundation stone for the new monastery planned at the Community of the Resurrection.

The Archbishop - who last visited the college in February 2004 - will make the keynote address at this year''s vocations conference and meet men and women considering training to become vicars in the Church of England.

The Archbishop, who grew up in the townships of South Africa, was inspired to join the church when he met leading anti-apartheid campaigner Fr Trevor Huddleston, a monk from the Community of the Resurrection.

The Community was formed more than 100 years ago and college students study and worship alongside members.

The Archbishop went on to train at a sister College of the Resurrection in South Africa.

Joe Kennedy, principal of the Mirfield college said: "We are thrilled that the Archbishop is honouring us with his visit.

"He represents all the best Christian virtues and values we seek to live out in the College. He is an inspirational man of faith who has dedicated his life to Christ and social change." He added that the Archbishop's visit came at a time of growth and renewal for the College as people from increasingly diverse backgrounds were drawn by the unique opportunity to train for the ordained ministry while living alongside a monastic community.

The community itself was also entering an exciting and bold period of change with plans to develop a new monastery on the existing campus.

The College is one of 12 training colleges for the Anglican church and welcomes 40 new students each year.

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RETURN: Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, above, on his last visit to Mirfield's College of the Resurrection and the College (inset)