The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, has made her first pastoral visit to Peterborough since her Installation, to witness the work of clergy and congregations across the diocese. Hosted by Bishop Debbie Sellin, the Bishop of Peterborough, Archbishop Sarah visited care homes, hospitals, outreach projects and churches across the weekend (16-17 May).
On Saturday morning, she met with Canon Jun Kim and his volunteers at Abington Church in Northampton. Known to locals as ‘Church in the Park’, the team runs art-led initiatives in its churchyard for families, schools and charities. One of its most well-known projects was Ribbons of Prayer, that attracted more than 20,000 prayers tied to the railings of the churchyard by the public.
Following this visit, Archbishop Sarah walked to the nearby St Christopher’s Care Home, where she met with residents and members of the Anna Chaplaincy, chaplains who offer ministry and friendship to older people, as well as helping them reflect on their relationship with God and break down generational barriers. Archbishop Sarah explored the home and its grounds with staff and later prayed with residents during a coffee morning in the chapel.
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Archbishop Sarah attended a service presided over by the rector, the Revd Canon Oliver Coss, before meeting with service users and volunteers from the Northampton Hope Centre, which has recently partnered with the church to provide support to the town’s homeless community.
She ended the first day of the visit at Kettering General Hospital, where she met with nurses and palliative care staff, and told them how thankful she is for the National Health Service, acknowledging the pressures they face in their roles. She also spoke with multifaith hospital chaplains, hearing their experiences of providing pastoral and spiritual care at bedsides across the hospital, from its wards to its A&E unit. At the hospital’s own radio station, she met with volunteer presenters and producers, and recorded a message for staff and patients from the studio. At the end of the visit, she laid of wreath in the Covid memorial garden, where she remembered those who lost their lives during the pandemic.
On Sunday morning, Archbishop Sarah was hosted by Rev Canon Stephen Webster at St Peter’s Church in Oundle for a Sunday service of confirmation and baptism. She preached on Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:1-14, speaking on the death and resurrection of Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. After the service, she met with those who had been baptised and confirmed.
In the afternoon, Archbishop Sarah was given a tour of Peterborough Cathedral by the Dean, the Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, during which she was shown St Oswald’s Chapel and a full-scale cast of a Titanosaur, a 37m-long dinosaur on loan to the cathedral from the Natural History Museum. She later preached at Evensong on 2 Samuel 23:1-5 and Ephesians 1:15 and met with members of the congregation as they left the service.
Reflecting on the visit, Archbishop Sarah said: “It has been a real privilege to spend time with Bishop Debbie and congregations across the Diocese of Peterborough. Spending time here has re-emphasised to me the way in which the Church is a source of hope to our communities. I have seen the signs and symbols that speak of God’s love, demonstrating that love in very practical ways.”
