Archbishop's visit to Lincoln

Archbishop at an eco friendly housing development in Long Sutton © Lincoln Diocese

As part of a busy and varied visit, the Archbishop gave a lecture in Lincoln Cathedral entitled 'Faith, Hope and Charity in Tomorrow's World'. He also presided at the Cathedral Eucharist to mark 100 years since the death of Bishop Edward King.  Dr Williams travelled the length and breadth of this sizeable diocese, visiting schools, parishes and church initiatives - including a youth centre for disaffected teenagers, an eco-friendly housing development in Long Sutton, and a homeless project run by a Lincoln city-centre church, as well as taking a tour of the historic Fish Docks in Grimsby.

Archbishop taking a tour of the historic Fish Docks in Grimsby © Dave Moss

The visit provided an opportunity for the Archbishop to meet with ordinands and readers-in-training in the diocese, and to learn of the range of ministry being undertaken in the Diocese in different areas including Grimsby, Ruskington, Sleaford and Stamford. The visit began with a Fresh Expressions Day at the Lincolnshire Showground (further details can be found below) where the Archbishop gave an address and took part in a question and answer session, before meeting with Ecumenical Leaders of Churches across Lincolnshire.

Timetable of the visit

Friday 5th March 2010

Fresh Expressions Day 'Changing the Landscape: Fresh Expressions and the long term'. The Archbishop addressed the audience saying that "the Church is the echo chamber for the divine Word", and warning that there are no quick fixes, that "it takes time to grow as a Christian".

Further details can be found here: www.freshexpressions.org.uk/training/lincoln

Archbishop at Lincoln Cathedral © Lambeth Palace

Saturday 6 March 2010

Lecture by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Faith, hope and charity in tomorrow's world.

3,000 people packed Lincoln Cathedral to hear the Archbishop talking about St John of the Cross who said that faith, hope and charity are what happens to our minds as we grow up as Christians. So intelligence and understanding develops into faith; our memory and looking backwards turns into hope; and our wanting, choosing and deciding all flows into love. The Archbishop 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.

100306 Faith, hope and charity in tomorrow's world [57Mb]

Read the transcript

Edward King Centenary Eucharist

Lincoln Cathedral

The Archbishop celebrated at the Eucharist to commemorate the life of Bishop Edward King.

Meeting with Ordinands and Readers-in-training

The Edward King Centre, Minster Yard, Lincoln

The Archbishop met with ordinands and readers-in-training.

Sunday 7 March 2010

Eucharist in St James's Church, Grimsby

The Archbishop travelled to Grimsby and celebrated the Eucharist and preached in St James's Church. In his sermon to the congregation of 500 he discussed judgement and hope, and also criticised those Christians who claimed the Haiitian earthquake was a punishment from God - that the victims were to be blamed for what was a natural disaster.

100307 St James Grimsby sermon [11Mb]

Visit to the Fish Docks,

The Archbishop toured the historic Fish Docks, the birthplace of fish fingers was once a major fishing port, but since the decline of the fishing industry has become a key fish processing area, and still remains the UK's largest port (by tonnage) due to its deep water location on the Humber Estuary.

Visit to St Aidan's Church, Cleethorpes

The Archbishop visited St Aidan's – the only remaining church in Grimsby inspired by Edward King – and observed how the church has been adapted to provide various community activities, while remaining a place of worship. There was a short act of thanksgiving for the ministry of Edward King, in which the Archbishop paid tribute to Bishop Edward King's depth of spirituality and also his energy working with the poor in the diocese. Bishop King believed the poor 'deserved the best', whether they were the brick makers or fishermen, or even prisoners – and spent most of his ministry devoted to their care.

100307 St Aidan's Church, Cleethorpes [5Mb]

Visit to the church of St John and St Stephen, New Clee

At St John and St Stephen's the Archbishop visited the youth centre which is integral to the church and also saw the SPACE project which the church runs for disaffected youngsters. He also heard of the church's plans to build and operate emergency accommodation for teenagers.

Be-attitude Café, St Mary le Wigford Church, Lincoln

The Archbishop visited a homeless project at a Lincoln city-centre church, largely staffed by volunteers who were themselves helped by the centre, whether emotionally as a place to speak to a friend, or on a more practical level in getting a hot meal and somewhere warm to rest.

Monday 8 March 2010

Chestnut Street Church of England Primary School © Jim Newton Edward King Day

Visit to Chestnut Street Church of England Primary School, Ruskington

During the Archbishop's visit to the school he heard the children sing and then play African drums, after which he placed a stone on the school cairn and gave a blessing to the school.

Visit to Sleaford Parish Church

The Archbishop made a very brief visit to St Denys's Church, Sleaford, to see the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof.

Long Sutton Housing Development

The Archbishop will visit Unity Gardens, Long Sutton - Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association's new development.

Unity Gardens is among the first social housing schemes to achieve a degree of autonomy. The homes require almost no heating, have natural ventilation, and can generate all of the householders' energy requirements. The houses are insulated with earth bunding on three sides.

For more information, visit www.lrha.co.uk

Christ Church, Stamford

The Archbishop will visited Christ Church, Stamford – a church running a large number of social action projects in what appears on the surface to be an affluent town. He learnt about the church's befriending initiative which helps adults to build up their self-esteem, and said "I think the befriending scheme is very different, it is trying to identify people have been bruised by their experiences. They don't need a programme that delivers lots of results; they just want to be alongside people. The way it works here is brilliant."