The UK's number two Anglican cleric, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, will visit Bermuda in October as the culmination of a year of activity, it was announced yesterday.

Born in Uganda, Archbishop Sentamu, a lawyer, was locked up by dictator Idi Amin and beaten in captivity before fleeing to Britain in 1974.

He became Archbishop of York in 2005. Two years later during a TV interview, Dr. Sentamu made a protest against Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe by ripping off his clerical collar and cutting it up, stating that he would not wear such an item until Mugabe was gone.

New Bishop of Bermuda Patrick White announced Archbishop Sentamu's arrival at a press conference yesterday.

He also announced the Anglican Church of Bermuda would celebrate the Island's 400th anniversary as a permanent settlement under the banner of 'Faith Venture 2009', named after the Sea Venture which foundered on Bermuda's reefs four centuries ago.

He said: "We were the church which first brought Christianity to these shores and we have been very much a part of Bermuda's history ever since.

"Our ongoing mission as a church in the name of Christ is to be a people who extend his reconciling love into our world today.

"Our Faith Venture is to reinvigorate that mission in Bermuda."

With that in mind the church has planned a series of events throughout 2009 climaxing in a service of thanksgiving on Sunday, October 4, said Bishop White.

He added: "Our speaker at that time will be the Most Reverend and Right Honourable John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. Archbishop Sentamu is an outspoken advocate and activist for human rights throughout the United Kingdom.

"We anticipate good things from him for our church and for all of Bermuda."