The highly influential religious leader, who has spent years tirelessly campaigning for civil rights in South Africa, was at the Community of the Resurrection on Saturday.

He blessed the stone and spoke to young people considering a career in the church before leading a service, which featured gospel singers, at Christ the King Church next door.

Bishop Tutu said: "I'm glad they are doing this (building the new monastery] because I know they will do it well. Whatever they do, they do well.

"I am just one of those who are very greatly influenced by the Community of the Resurrection and the role that I may have played in our struggle against apartheid would not have happened without the training that I had, brought by the Community of the Resurrection."

The 78-year-old archbishop was inspired to join the priesthood by the late Trevor Huddleston, a community brother who worked as a priest in a Johannesburg slum where Bishop Tutu grew up.

Blessing the foundation stone, Bishop Tutu said: "We come to bless this stone knowing that people are going to be sleeping, people are going to be tired, people are going to be hungry here, people are going to wake up and wash and do all the many things we do in a home.

"If you and I had the right kind of eyes we would see angels around here."

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