Justin Welby: “My identity is in Christ”

The Archbishop of Canterbury has discovered he is the illegitimate son of Sir Winston Churchill’s last private secretary, after taking a DNA test to prove his paternity, The Telegraph has informed.

After the British newspaper discussed its research with the Archbishop, he decided to take a DNA test to settle the matter. His mouth swabs were compared with hair samples from Sir Anthony and showed a 99.9779 per cent probability that they were father and son.

“WE DID NOT DOUBT WE WERE HIS PARENTS”

Welby’s mother, who married again and is now Lady Williams of Elvel, confirmed to her son that she had a liaison with Sir Anthony shortly before she married Welby, though her son’s paternity was a big surprise.

"Although, as has already been made public, Gavin Welby and I had a short and, sadly, dysfunctional marriage, neither of us ever doubted that we were the parents of our son Justin, who was born almost nine months to the day after our marriage.”

Welby´s parents/ Telegraph

For her, the DNA evidence “so many years after Gavin's death, has come as an almost unbelievable shock.”

DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD

Welby recognises in an official statement that he had a difficult childhood: “as a result of my parents’ addictions”, but he also “had the blessing and gift of a wonderful education, and was cared for deeply by my grandmother, my mother once she was in recovery since 1968 and never drink again, and my father as far as he was able.”

He believes that his case “is typical of many people. To find that one's father is other than imagined is not unusual. To be the child of families with great difficulties in relationships, with substance abuse or other matters, is far too normal.”

“MY IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST”

The Archbishop says that “this revelation has, of course, been a surprise, but in my life and in our marriage Caroline and I have had far worse.”

In an interview with the Telegraph,Welby, who is a father of six and lost a daughter, affirmed: “There is no existential crisis, and no resentment against anyone.”

“I know that I find who I am in Jesus Christ, not in genetics, and my identity in him never changes.”

Welby and his wife Caroline

“A STORY OF REDEPTION AND HOPE”

Regarding his father, Welby states: “Although there are elements of sadness, and even tragedy in my father's case, this is a story of redemption and hope from a place of tumultuous difficulty and near despair in several lives.”

“It is a testimony to the grace and power of Christ to liberate and redeem us, grace and power which is offered to every human being”, he adds.

“NOTHING HAS CHANGED”

At the end of his statement, the Archbishop recalls that “at the very outset of my inauguration service three years ago, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, a young member of the Canterbury Cathedral congregation, said: “We greet you in the name of Christ. Who are you, and why do you request entry?”

He then responded: “I am Justin, a servant of Jesus Christ, and I come as one seeking the grace of God to travel with you in His service together.”

“What has changed? Nothing!”, he concludes.