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Book Review: The Road to Canterbury, Part 2
The Road to Canterbury: Part 2
After seven years as Vicar of Southam, Justin Welby was appointed a Residentiary Canon of Coventry Cathedral in 2002. This was to help direct its international department in seeking reconciliation in areas of conflict. Much of his work in Nigeria and Burindi and elsewhere placed him in positions of grave personal danger. More than once he was caught in riots, and could testify from personal experience that “crowds in fury are terrifying”. After three years Welby was installed as the cathedral’s Sub-Dean. His primary focus was now the day to day running of the cathedral and local reconciliation projects in the Coventry city and the diocese.
Only two years later and Welby became Dean of Liverpool. At his installation in December 2007, he announced his vision for the cathedral community with three priorities. It was to be a place of freedom in worship, risk-taking and generosity. Welby made clear his intention to encourage worship “in many different styles”, modern and traditional, silent and full of sound. “In worship can be found the presence of God and with Him and Him alone there is hope for our fears, healing for our wounds, sense in our lostness, forgiveness in our failings”.
Gently hinting that choral music would not maintain its monopoly. The cathedral would be” a place of risk”. “Jesus sent his disciples out to heal and transform,to take risks; to bring people into the presence of the living God." Whatever else Christianity may be, it is fire and passion not comfort and ease. Risk, according to the new Dean, meant “saying what is true when it is unpopular”, going out with the good news of Jesus Christ, “not being afraid of the incredible consequences of that message for every aspect of life, public and private”.
Ironically, one of the ways in which the Cathedral building is used is by leaving it. It is not a prison but a base. Welby proposed a new slogan, “This Cathedral should be a safe place to do risky things” ‘Safe because a fervent spirituality becomes a safety net when we fall, and a resource for when we need renewal. But also risky, because Christian discipleship, the way of the cross, means facing tough issues, asking hard questions, reaching out in mission to dark places. In four words, doing what Jesus does!
With new priorities the Cathedral began to enjoy a higher profile in the city, reaching sectors of the population who normally had little connection with the church. The momentum began to shift from caution to risk, and from maintenance to mission. In a short space of time, Welby had risen to the attention of the movers and shakers in the Anglican world. In June 2011, after only three and a half years into his ministry in Liverpool, it was announced that he was to be the next Bishop of Durham.
His final sermon in Liverpool was a passionate exhortation to "Hang on to Jesus". Do not be ashamed of the gospel and he warned his congregation against the danger of becoming "mere straw figures pretending to religion",“Such strawy existence leads from grace to law, from hospitality to defensiveness, from risk taking in Christ’s service to self- preserving our own interests." Welby’s time at Durham was however, short lived. After little more than a year he was plucked from the diocese of Durham and thrown upon the international stage as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
In his first public statement as Archbishop-designate at Lambeth Palace in November 2012, in front of the world’s media, Justin Welby laid out his stall. Although the Anglican Communion faces many troubles, Welby celebrated its potential as "a source of remarkable blessing to the world". He spoke with confidence of the power of the Christian gospel to transform society. He spoke of his excitement at being invited to help lead the church “in a time of spiritual hunger.” Christian confidence at a time of opportunity was the main keynote of his address.
This was emphasized again in a written article. As a new chapter dawned in the history of the Church of England and in Justin Welby’s own ministry, he wrote: “I am profoundly optimistic about the church I serve. For all its many failures, it has treasure, perhaps treasure located in rather clay-like containers, but treasure that gives hope, meaning and purpose to those who find it.” (ref. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 7)
Well worth reading is the Road to Canterbury – Archbishop Justin Welby by Andrew Atherstone.
A paper back recently published by Darton, Longman and Todd at £7.99.
John Fletcher