The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, recently visited Australia and Hong Kong, where he encouraged Anglican churches, schools and communities in their shared mission of proclaiming the gospel.
His visit began in Western Australia at the invitation of Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy AO. At the opening Eucharist of the Diocese of Perth’s(link is external) 52nd Synod at St George’s Cathedral, Archbishop Stephen preached and joined clergy and lay representatives gathered from across the diocese. The service included a Welcome to Country from Barry Winmar and a Gospel procession led by the Boodjar Bidi Performance Group. During the Synod, the Archbishop was formally invited to address members, sharing greetings from the Church of England and affirming Archbishop Kay’s vision and leadership.
Preaching again at St George’s Cathedral on the Feast of St Luke, Archbishop Stephen encouraged worshippers “to recognise their calling to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world, sharing God’s love, hope and compassion through their daily lives.” He also visited Holy Grounds, a Perth-based social enterprise that brings people together through hospitality and community.
A significant element of the visit was engagement with young people and Anglican education both in Australia and in Hong Kong. Archbishop Stephen visited a number of Anglican schools, meeting students, staff and school leaders. He spoke about the distinctive contribution Anglican schools make in nurturing both academic excellence and spiritual formation, helping young people explore questions of faith, purpose and identity.
Archbishop Stephen also travelled to York in Western Australia’s Avon Valley, where he joined Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy for worship at Holy Trinity Church, one of the state’s oldest Anglican churches. The service included a Welcome to Country by Balladong Elder Dr Marion Kickett and brought together clergy, parishioners and members of the wider community. Reflecting on the visit, Archbishop Stephen in his sermon spoke of “the good news of knowing Jesus and being known by him”, and of “how lives and communities can be transformed when Christians become Christ’s presence for others.”
A further highlight was a public lecture delivered at the Art Gallery of Western Australia on the work of the British artist Stanley Spencer. Exploring Spencer’s celebrated Christ in the Wilderness series, Archbishop Stephen reflected on themes of prayer, vocation, creation, sacrifice and hospitality. He spoke about Spencer’s paintings remaining profoundly relevant in helping Christians understand both the life of Christ and the challenges facing contemporary society. Drawing on works such as Consider the Lilies, The Scorpion and The Hen, he spoke about wonder, reconciliation, the call to love sacrificially and the importance of welcoming the stranger. He concluded by suggesting that Spencer’s art teaches us “how to love one another, how to gaze at daisies and pick up scorpions, and how to welcome the stranger”.
Archbishop Stephen also spent time in Brisbane, where he joined Archbishop Jeremy Greaves in preaching and engaging with clergy from across the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland(link is external). Through conversations with clergy and church leaders, he shared reflections on preaching and discipleship. While at St John’s Cathedral, he also led a teaching event on the Lord’s Prayer.
Archbishop Stephen then travelled to Hong Kong for his first official visit to the Province of Hong Kong(link is external). He joined clergy and congregations in worship at St John’s Cathedral and later at All Saints Cathedral, which is celebrating its 135th year. Archbishop Stephen reflected on the witness of the saints through the ages and the Church’s continuing calling to be a faithful and hopeful presence in the world. The celebrations brought together Anglicans from across Hong Kong and offered a visible expression of the rich diversity of the Anglican Communion.
Archbishop Stephen welcomed the formal approval of a new companion link between the Diocese of Leeds(link is external) and the Diocese of Hong Kong Island(link is external). His visit to Providence Garden for Rehabilitation and United Court, a transitional housing project, provided an opportunity to see more closely how the Church is living out its mission through social transformation.