Dr Williams' enthronement will include Welsh elements

When Rowan Williams is made the 104th Archbishop at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday, a soloist accompanied on the harp will sing in Welsh and Dr Williams will wear robes made by Welsh craft workers.

The former Archbishop of Wales has courted controversy during his rise to the top job in the worldwide Anglican Church.

Church traditionalists have said they will protest outside the cathedral wearing black armbands in anger at his liberal views on homosexuality.

Dr Williams, 52, has also made clear his opposition to war with Iraq and supports the ordination of women priests.

The bishop will knock on the door of Canterbury Cathedral

The ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral is due to be attended by senior members of the Royal Family, leading politicians and representatives of other faiths in Britain including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev Richard Harris said there was still "huge support" for the new archbishop, among the "vast majority" of church people.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the bishop said Dr Williams would not be "pushing his own agenda" while in office.

"He has made it quite clear he is going to abide by the consensus of the whole church," he said.

Dr Williams will be installed in the 13th Century marble chair of St Augustine and will swear an oath on the 1,500-year-old Canterbury gospels.

But he will be dressed in robes that bear the symbols of Welsh history and tradition.

The clasp worn by Dr Williams features Celtic designs

His mitre, cope and stole, the clasp on his cope and the white linen garment below the cope are made to specially selected designs - many drawing on the Celtic-Christian tradition.

The garments and ceremonial jewellery are worth thousand of pounds and have been paid for by an anonymous donor.

When they are no longer needed by Dr Williams, they will be returned to Wales as part of the national heritage.

Goldsmith Rhiannon Evans, who designed the clasp for the cope, said "I felt privileged to be making it.

"I think very highly of Dr Williams as a man and as a priest. He is very special and his appointment to this position is a very important event."

The clasp - which is made of gold on a sterling silver background - is a symbol of peace and signifies the move of Dr Williams from Wales to the See of Canterbury.

Choir

The choir of Newport's St Woolos Cathedral are to sing "Come My Way, My Truth My Life" at the service.

And an 18th century Welsh poem - translated by Welsh-speaking Dr Williams - was also due to be performed at the service by a singer accompanied by a harp.

Dr Williams legally became the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Confirmation of Election ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral in December.