Archbishop of Canterbury
to visit Australia
Media release from the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
21 September 2022
Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Australia
Anglican leader will meet Anglicans, Indigenous leaders, and lend his support for climate change initiatives
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will visit Australia from 4-14 October 2022 accompanied by his wife, Caroline.
During the long-planned visit he will travel from Perth to Thursday Island, visiting Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and regional centres.
Archbishop Welby is scheduled to meet Anglicans delivering diverse ministries and services including First Nations groups to discuss issues of reconciliation and multicultural ministries including refugee groups.
The Archbishop, who is the senior bishop and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion Church, is committed to a journey of understanding and healing with Indigenous people.
In Sydney, he will spend time with Ray Minniecom, pastor Scarred Tree Indigenous Ministries with St. John's Anglican Church, Glebe.
Archbishop Welby will also meet people across the country affected by climate change, an issue which the archbishop has spoken about extensively.
He will talk to Thursday Islanders coping with rising sea levels, as well as those affected by flooding in Lismore and the Anglican groups that are providing on-the-ground support.
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Geoff Smith, said he was delighted Archbishop Welby was visiting Australia.
“We are looking forward to this visit immensely,” he said. “In a world plagued by division it is good to be reminded of our common values and to cement the ties of the Anglican Church of Australia with Anglicans around the globe.
“We look forward to this visit reinforcing our shared values and letting us draw strength from each other as we confront the imperatives of our time,” Archbishop Smith said.
Archbishop Welby will also meet with young people in Anglican schools and spend a day meeting with the Bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia.
In Adelaide he will take part in the celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of the Diocese and will ordain two Aboriginal women as priests during a visit to the
community of Yarrabah, near Cairns.