Archbishop of Canterbury visits Coventry and Warwickshire

Archbishop Rowan, Bishop Christopher and Bishop John

awaiting the start of the Golden Jubilee service

Archbishop Rowan's visit

to the Diocese of Coventry

from 25 to 27 May 2012

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, visited Coventry and Warwickshire from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 May 2012. Coventry celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of its new cathedral on the Friday, and Archbishop Rowan preached at a special Jubilee service. He then embarked on a full programme of events that enabled him to listen to, and have discussions with, a wide range of local people.

Archbishop Rowan visited Arley, Nuneaton, Coventry, Stoneleigh and Tredington. His programme included:

Coventry Cathedral's Golden Jubilee Service;
A visit to a cafe for young parents and their children;
A meeting with some members of the Community of the Cross of Nails;
Discussions with local leaders who are shaping society in Coventry and Warwickshire;
A meeting with some young leaders from churches in poorer areas;
Discussions with community representatives from Arley and the wider Nuneaton area;
A meeting with headteachers from church schools, followed by evening worship with children and parents;
A multi-cultural event;
A church service in a rural setting.

His visit will concluded with a large open-air celebration of rural life, entitled 'Spirit of the Countryside’. This comprised an act of worship, at which the Archbishop of Canterbury preached, followed by a picnic lunch with music and entertainment.

The Archbishop began his weekend visit by preaching at the Golden Jubilee of the new cathedral.

The Archbishop's visit concluded with a celebration of rural life at 'Spirit of the Countryside'

Before the event, the Bishop of Coventry, said, “We are delighted that Archbishop Rowan has accepted our invitation to visit Coventry and Warwickshire, and that he will be staying for the entire weekend. We hope that the varied programme will give him a good understanding of the joys and challenges that people are facing in this part of the Midlands. I am also looking forward to the fresh insights that he will be able to share with us.”

Bishop John, the Bishop of Warwick, added, “It will be a great joy to welcome Archbishop Rowan to the Diocese. He will be meeting not only people from a variety of contexts across Coventry and Warwickshire, but some of his time with us will be enriched also by the presence of Archbishop Mor Severios from the Syrian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and Bishop Josiah of Kaduna in Nigeria. I am in no doubt that Archbishop Rowan will receive a warm welcome wherever he goes and we look forward to his presence among us, to his listening to us and to his wisdom for us.