BY Ian Dunn | October 5 | 
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Archbishop Stack leaves university role
Archbishop George Stack is to step down as chairman of the board of governors at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, following his recent appointment as the seventh Archbishop of Cardiff.
Archbishop Stack (above) succeeded Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue, the Emeritus Bishop of Lancaster, in 2001 and has held the post since then. The archbishop said it had been a great honour to hold the role.
“It has been a privilege to serve staff and students of St Mary’s University College as Chair of Governors,” he said. ”The greatest satisfaction is to know that at St Mary’s our students receive what they hope for on their arrival – the very best in terms of a rigorous and well-rounded education. This will enable them, in their turn, to make a vital contribution to the ‘Civilisation of Love’ which has been at the heart of every society.”
A student at St Mary’s in the mid-1970s, the archbishop brought a firm knowledge of its history and tradition to his work, as the University College entered an important new phase in its development.
The highlight of his time in office was the visit of the Pope Benedict XVI, on 17 September 2010, which was part of the Holy Father’s four-day state visit, the first time a Pope had visited the UK since 1982.
Another success of Archbishop’s Stack’s tenure was the granting of degree awarding powers to the University College. It is the first Catholic Institution in England to be able to award its own degrees since the Reformation in the 16th Century.
St Mary’s Principal Professor Philip Esler said the entire college was very grateful for Archbishop Stack’s efforts on the college’s behalf.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I would like to express the appreciation for the contribution that Archbishop Stack has made to St Mary’s during his ten years as Chair,” he said. “We are very sorry to lose Archbishop Stack as chair, but are also delighted to congratulate him on his installation as the new Archbishop of Cardiff and wish him well in this appointment.”
Dr Oona Stannard, head of the Catholic Education Service and vice chair of governors, echoed that praise. “Archbishop Stack is a huge advocate for St Mary’s and its importance in the life of the Church and the wider community,” she said. “During his ten years’ Chairmanship we have seen St Mary’s go from strength to strength. It has been a privilege to be vice chair to Archbishop Stack.”
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