Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Liverpool

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, is to visit Liverpool on the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th January 2008. The Archbishop comes at the invitation of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones. During his visit Dr Williams will deliver a Lecture at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, attend the National Holocaust Memorial Day at the Philharmonic Hall and preach at Choral Evening Prayer at the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. He will also be the guest of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Clark, at a Town Hall Reception, visit the ecumenical Charity L'Arche, and meet with Diocesan staff and volunteers. Bishop James Jones says of the visit: "The Archbishop's visit and lecture at the beginning of Liverpool's year as Capital of Culture underscores the important place that faith has had in shaping our city. He will receive the warmest of welcomes." On the morning of Saturday 26th January the Archbishop will meet with Bishop James and with the Bishop of Warrington, the Right Reverend David Jennings, before being introduced to the Bishop's Council, Area Deans and Diocesan staff for a discussion on God's mission on Merseyside. In the late afternoon he will visit the L'Arche Community based in Kensington. L'Arche (French for the Ark) was started more than forty years ago in France by former Royal Navy officer Jean Vanier for people with developmental disabilities. The Liverpool Community: one of 130 across the world and nine in the UK, started in 1976. There are now five houses in Liverpool shared between people with disabilities and assistants, and they live like a family, sharing meals and household chores. Liverpool is the European Capital of Culture for 2008 and Archbishop Rowan will deliver a lecture entitled 'Europe, Culture and Faith' at Liverpool Cathedral at 6.00 pm on the Saturday evening. Over 2,000 tickets have been issued to parishes in the Diocese and to other special guests. If space permits, admission to the Cathedral will be available to those without tickets at 5.30 pm. After this the Archbishop will meet leaders of the region over a meal. On Sunday morning the Archbishop will lead the worship on one of the inner-city parishes. On Sunday 27th January the Archbishop is to be the guest of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Paul Clark, at a lunchtime reception at Liverpool Town Hall. At 3pm he will join other faith leaders at the National Holocaust Memorial Day in the Philharmonic Hall. Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated on 27th January each year on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. At 5pm the Archbishop's visit will conclude with a celebration of Choral Evening Prayer in the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral at which he will preach. 2008 is the 100th anniversary of the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which developed from an Octave of Prayer devised in 1908 by the American Episcopalian clergyman Paul Wattson, and Spencer Jones, the Vicar of Moreton-in-Marsh in England. The annual celebration is one of special significance for Churches in Liverpool with their history of ecumenical co-operation and work together. Archbishop Williams will return to London on Sunday evening. Source: Archdiocese of Liverpool