DR John Sentamu was this afternoon being enthroned as the 97th Archbishop of York.

He sailed into the city from Bishopthorpe Palace to make history as Britain's first black Archbishop.

More than 2,700 people were cramming into York Minster to watch the ceremony, which included African hymns, drumming and the washing of children's feet.

Up to 800 guests were watching the ceremony on a big screen in the nearby St Michael-le-Belfrey Church.

But the Duchess of Gloucester, who had been due to represent the Queen at the service, was delayed by severe problems on the East Coast Main Line, and her place was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne.

Speaking after travelling along the Ouse on a pleasure boat, Dr Sentamu said he was looking forward to a "great, wonderful gathering".

Asked how he felt on a chilly York morning, Dr Sentamu declared: "My hands are cold, but my heart is warm. It's the end of November- what do you expect?"

He said people had been standing on every bridge over the Ouse to greet him as he made his way upstream. "That's wonderful," he said.

Crowds greeted and cheered the new Archbishop as he made his way from Marygate Landing, through the Museum Gardens and along Museum Street and Duncombe Place, with the Minster bells ringing loudly.

Among the well-wishers were Tony Williams of Barmby Moor, and his Ugandan-born partner, Ruth. He said it was an historic moment for the Church, which had become moribund.

During a Royal-style walkabout, Dr Sentamu blessed Josephine Ruddock, a three-month-old baby in her pram, who had come to York for the day with her mother, Karen, of Stockton-on-Tees.

Town crier John Redpath won huge applause as he welcomed the new Archbishop to the Minster.

High profile guests at today's service included, Doreen, the mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence. As Bishop for Stepney, Dr Sentamu served on the Lawrence Inquiry Team and struck up an important friendship with the family. The inquiry chairman, Sir William MacPherson, was also due to attend the service.

Other guests included Apolo Nsibambi, Prime Minister of Uganda, and the Most Reverend Henry Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda and Bishop of Kampala.

There were understood to be no senior British political figures present, although the ceremony was attended by York MP Hugh Bayley and Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh.

As the Archbishop walked towards the Great West Door, he was greeted by civic

dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of York, Janet Greenwood, the Sheriff, Gilbert Nimmo, and Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, Mr Bayley and council leader Steve Galloway.

Updated: 12:06 Wednesday, November 30, 2005