Legion of Honour for Lay Theologian

The former President of France, M. Jacques Chirac has named Mme Suzanne Martineau chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, one of the highest dignities in the country. On Friday 7 September the Archbishop of Poitiers, Mgr Albert Rouet, presented the cross of the order to Mme Martineau in a ceremony in the Hôtel De Ville in Poitiers. Mme Martineau, a Roman Catholic historian and theologian has worked tirelessly for the unity of the Churches, and especially for the ecumenical relations between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in France. Professor Martineau was the first female interpreter and assistant at Vatican II. She has been present at 3 Lambeth Conferences, and is considered to be the French expert on Anglicanism. She was awarded the Cross of St Augustine by Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie in 1990.

In our own diocese, particularly in the Archdeaconry of France, we are indebted to Mme Martineau for her work on the guidelines prepared by the Anglican-Roman Catholic Committees of France and England, Twinnings and Exchanges/Jumelages et Echanges. This unique agreement sets out how individual Anglicans or families unable to attend their own Eucharistic celebrations are welcome, after seeking the priest’s approval, to receive Holy Communion in a Roman Catholic Church in France.

The Diocese was represented at the ceremony in Poitiers by the Revd Canon Dr Roger Greenacre, the Revd Michael Hepper, the Revd Canon Chad Coussemaker and Bishop David, who presented greetings and congratulations from the Archbishop of Canterbury.