THE MAYOR of Worcester has spoken of his delight at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to the Faithful City.
During a two-day tour of the county, Archbishop Justin Welby visited Worcester Cathedral where he was welcomed by 430 children from 89 schools across Worcestershire and the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley.
He visited the three counties showground to talk to the rural community and did an interview with Jeremy Vine at the Worcester Arena in front of a 1,600-strong audience.
Speaking of the visit, the Mayor Coun Paul Denham said: “I was greatly honoured to host a reception on Friday evening for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
“The Archbishop’s interview by Jeremy Vine, followed by questions from a packed University Arena, revealed a man with a real depth of compassion and humanity.”
Challenged by the audience with issues such as celibacy and abortion, Coun Paul Denham said the Archbishop’s ‘carefully crafted answers showed understanding of the wider issues whilst honestly explaining the church’s position.’
He added: “Archbishop Justin spent years in the oil industry before his ordination into the Church of England.
“He was candid about doing his school homework behind his hymn book in school assemblies. He also spoke with emotion about his discovery that the man who raised him was not, in fact, his biological father and about daughter’s depression.
“Many people in Worcestershire and Dudley will have heard and seen our archbishop during his very busy schedule on this diocesan visit. I hope they were as impressed as I have been in his presence.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury rounded off his trip to Worcester with a breakfast meeting with nearly 80 business leaders at Worcester County Cricket Club, before travelling to Redditch and various places in The Black Country.
