Archbishop’s solace after ‘painful’ defeat

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of the strength he has drawn from his cathedral following the “painful” defeat of legislation introducing women bishops.

Dr Rowan Williams described Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Church of England, as a “great open space” for people to come into and discover “new things” about human life and possibilities. When the Church itself looks dysfunctional or muddled (yes, I have noticed), there are still things that don’t change,” Dr Williams said.

“A couple of days after the Church of England’s painful vote on women bishops, I was back in Canterbury, looking at the building and thinking, ‘Not even these past few days take away the open space, the possibilities.’”