A top-ranked Anglican church leader, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury, is headed to New Plymouth for an historic celebration in March.

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev and Rt Hon John Sentamu and his wife Margaret will be the guests of honour when St Mary's Pro-Cathedral becomes the church's newest full cathedral.

The cathedral will be unique in the Anglican world and that's one reason a person of Dr Sentamu's seniority is making the trip.

The Bishop of Taranaki, the Rt Rev Philip Richardson, said it was a tremendous honour to have someone of Dr Sentamu's standing, courage and character to share the big occasion.

Bishop Sir Paul Reeves, Te Atiawa has agreed to preside at the service.

“This is a tremendous honour ... that someone of Archbishop John’s standing, courage and character will share this historic moment with us,” Bishop Richardson said.

Dr Sentamu was a high court judge in Uganda but fled the murderous Idi Amin's military dictatorship after being involved in a case where one of Amin's cousins was imprisoned.

He was appointed Archbishop of York in 2005, becoming Britain's foremost black church leader.

Bishop Richardson informed the St Mary's congregation yesterday that the church's promotion to becoming a full cathedral had been confirmed and that Dr Sentamu would be a guest at the ceremony, officiated by former archbishop and New Zealand governor-general Sir Paul Reeves.

St Mary's will be the seat of a separate Taranaki bishopric, while remaining part of the Waikato Diocese.

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