2010: Meeting with Archbishop Rowan

Report by Rebekah Clark

On Monday 8th February, ten members of the Church of England Youth Council had the privilege of going to Lambeth Palace to meet with the Most Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

The meeting gave us the opportunity to speak of what we have found to be both encouraging and not so encouraging, as youth within the Church of England. Topics discussed included perceptions of what young people want and what we actually want, preparation for confirmation, education and young people, the whole Church as a learning Church, the role of the Church in a largely secular society and also what the Archbishop considered the Church would look like in fifty years time. It was a highly interesting and thought provoking meeting and the Archbishop provided some very insightful thoughts in response to our questions.

It was also an opportunity to consider what is going well for the Youth Council and also the challenges faced and to look forward to the direction in which CEYC hopes to move in the coming years.

I think we all left with much to think about and are very grateful to the Archbishop for his time and the opportunity for such a meeting.