From the Archbishop
The Diocese Of Perth Welcomes
The Archbishop Of Canterbury
The Diocese Of Perth Welcomes The Archbishop Of Canterbury
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5 October 2022
The Anglican Diocese of Perth welcomes the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby to Perth this week.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial ‘first among equals’ head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury.
The last time the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Church was in Perth was 34 years ago, in 1988, when Archbishop, The Most Reverend Robert Runcie visited.
Archbishop Justin Welby will be accompanied by his wife, Mrs Caroline Welby, on what is their first visit to Perth and the start of an Australian tour with a particular focus on First Nations peoples and climate change.
The Archbishop of the Diocese of Perth, The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy said the Anglican community was preparing a very warm welcome for Archbishop Welby and his wife, Caroline.
“It is an immense honour for Perth that Archbishop Justin Welby will start his Australian tour here and I’m sure the Anglican community will be inspired and energised by his visit,” she said.
“It is only two months since the global Lambeth Conference in the United Kingdom concluded, so the timing of this visit couldn’t be better – though it has been delayed by a couple of years because of the COVID pandemic.”
Today, (Wednesday 5 October) Archbishop Welby and his wife will attend a special ceremony in Kings Park, where there will be a Welcome to Country before they are introduced to Noongar Elders. Later, they will be part of a private reception where they will meet leaders of Anglican schools, and agencies addressing significant social issues including poverty, homelessness, mental health issues and family violence.
On Thursday morning Archbishop Welby will be speaking to Anglican clergy following this year’s Lambeth Conference, which challenged participants to consider and debate what it means to be ‘God’s Church for God’s World’. Mrs Welby will spend the morning with members of the Sudanese Anglican Community and Mothers’ Union.
On Thursday evening Archbishop Welby will preach at a special Diocesan Service Choral Eucharist at St George’s Cathedral in the centre of Perth. Archbishop Goldsworthy will be presiding.
Archbishop Welby will fly out of Perth on Friday to Adelaide before heading to Melbourne, Sydney and regional centres. His final stops will be in North Queensland and Thursday Island.
Throughout his tour he will meet Anglicans delivering diverse ministries and services, including First Nation groups, as well as people across the country affected by climate change.
He will talk to Thursday Islanders coping with rising sea levels, as well as those affected by flooding in Lismore.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Australian tour will finish on 19 October.