Speeches

A collection of the Archbishop's public speeches

• 23 July 2010
  How should churches respond to the Big Society - Rowan Williams
  The Archbishop joined Bob Reitemeier, CEO of the Children's Society, to explore the opportunities and challenges for Christian organisations and churches engaging with the government's vision of the Big Society, at an event at the Oasis Centre in London.
• 22 July 2010
  Archbishop's keynote address at Lutheran World Federation Assembly
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has delivered the keynote address on the theme' Give us this day our daily bread' at the 11th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Stuttgart, Germany. The Assembly is the Lutheran World Federation's highest decision-making body, which this year runs from 20-27th July, normally occurring every six years.
• 29 June 2010
  Archbishop on Sts Peter and Paul - "What's the life we're prepared to lay down for Christ?"
  The Archbishop's address at the annual Methodist Conference, Portsmouth Guildhall.
• 24 May 2010
  Building Bridges Christian-Muslim Seminar on Tradition and Modernity
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will chair the 9th Annual Building Bridges Seminar in Washington DC from May 25-27, 2010. Since 2002, the Archbishop of Canterbury has chaired the annual seminar, which brings together leading Muslim and Christian scholars from around the world to explore issues at the heart of the two traditions.
• 20 May 2010
  The Holy Spirit in the World Today Conference
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, German theologian Professor Jürgen Moltmann and Professor Miroslav Volf gathered at Holy Trinity Brompton Church, London to think about the person, the role and the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the world today.
• 12 May 2010
  Archbishop's CARA lecture
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams yesterday delivered a lecture entitled "Enriching the arguments: the refugee contribution to British life" to a large invited audience at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London.
• 30 April 2010
  Archbishop highlights importance of local churches in communities
  The Archbishop of Canterbury spent two days in the Diocese of Norwich, reflecting on the life of the rural church at All Saints', Sharrington, and taking part in a conversation on the relationship between poetry and prayer in Norwich Cathedral. The Archbishop frequently visits other dioceses as part of his ministry.
• Holy Week 2010
  This week the Archbishop is giving a series of Holy Week Lectures entitled 'The beginning of the Gospel - reading Mark's life of Jesus' over 3 consecutive evenings at 7.30pm, Canterbury Cathedral. Listen to the podcasts and watch a special video message from the Archbishop on the journey of Holy Week.
• 22 March 2010
  Archbishop: Dialogue is a means of 'God-given discovery'
  The Archbishop gave an address at the Christian Muslim Forum Conference of Scholars, held at Lambeth Palace. As founder patron of the organisation, the Archbishop talked with other Christian and Muslim scholars about whether dialogue can really deal with religious differences without avoidance or compromise. Other speakers included Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad, Maulana Yunus Mohammed and Dr John Azumah.
• 20 March 2010
  'The Fellowship of the Baptized' - The John Coventry Memorial address
  The John Coventry Memorial address given by Archbishop Rowan Williams at a meeting of Inter-Church Families at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm St, London W1.
• 06 March 2010
  Faith, hope and charity in tomorrow's world
  Held at Lincoln Cathedral, the Archbishop gave a lecture where he looked at how modern day society looks at understanding, remembering and wanting things, and how the Church can turn this outwards into faith, hope and love.
• 02 March 2010
  'The finality of Christ in a pluralist world'
  A lecture given by Archbishop Rowan Williams, during a visit to the Diocese of Guildford
• 17 February 2010
  Archbishop receives inter faith award
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, yesterday received the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths 'Building Bridges Award'. The award was made in recognition of the Archbishop's 'commitment to addressing contemporary cultural and inter faith issues'.
• 12 February 2010
  The Archbishop says farewell to the Lord Bishop of Southwark
  The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a farewell speech at the General Synod to mark the retirement of the Lord Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler. The Archbishop said he deeply values Revd Tom Butler's clarity, forthrightness and commitment, and describes him as "candid, faithful, creative".
• 12 February 2010
  Confidence in the Bible
  General Synod, London. In his contribution to this debate, the Archbishop underlined the need for greater biblical literacy within the Church, as well as highlighting a new Anglican Communion project The Bible in the Church, which aims at encouraging a shared reading and interpretation of scripture across the Communion.
• 09 February 2010
  Mission-shaped Church: Report from the Mission and Public Affairs Council
  General Synod, London. In his contribution to this debate, the Archbishop underlined the need to work creatively together in partnership, to readdress Church funding and to have patience in building new congregations and networks.
• 09 February 2010
  The Archbishop's Presidential Address
  In a wide-ranging address to the General Synod in London, the Archbishop of Canterbury discusses the nature of human freedom and the value of listening and learning from one another, in both national and international debates, as well as those occurring during Synod this week.
• 04 February 2010
  Students show Archbishop they have 'Faith in the World'
  Around 350 A-Level students and their teachers from more than 60 schools joined the Archbishop of Canterbury at a Sixth Form conference in London one February afternoon.
• 31 January 2010
  Archbishop at World Economic Forum in Davos
  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, lead the Closing Session of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010 in Davos, Switzerland, with a discussion on "Being Responsible for the Future".
• 01 January 2010
  The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message
  In his BBC New Year Message the Archbishop of Canterbury sets out that in this global society we now inhabit "risk and suffering are everybody's problem, the needs of our neighbours are the needs of the whole human family."
• 2009 speeches archive
  
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• 2007 speeches archive
  
• 2006 speeches archive
  
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• 2003 speeches archive
  
• 2002 speeches archive