Archbishop of Canterbury begins three-day visit
The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd Justin Welby, began his three-day pastoral visit to the diocese by visiting the Foodbank in Launceston where he met manager, Rachel Collard, and some of the volunteers who run the facility.
This was the first of a series of engagements during which Archbishop Justin’s declared intent was to “to come to a rural area to learn what is happening”. Next stop after the Foodbank was a working lunch with local farmers, so that he could hear at first hand the challenges facing local people engaged in agriculture in Cornwall.
Most of the afternoon was spent in Launceston Town Centre visiting local businesses and walking and talking with people in the street in order to listen to their thoughts and problems.
Archbishop Justin also found time to make friends with a dog, to enjoy a piece of a cake baked especially for him by the Christian Bookshop team, and finally to be the centrepiece of a souvenir picture in the Town Square!
This was followed by a trip to Tregadillett Community Hall & Church to join in a Family Day focused on young people and to share in a children’s tea party.
The final engagement of the day was an evening meal with representatives and volunteers from the many organisations, such as the Poverty Forum and Street Pastors, who are meeting the needs of those people who are in need of support, or who for one reason or another have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand.
Photo: Paul Richards
