Archbishop's Welsh visit

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will visit the National Assembly for Wales today. As part of the visit he will deliver a keynote address to an audience made up of members of the public. He will share his views on what he believes unites and strengthens communities.

Last week the Archbishop of Canterbury joined the Archbishop of Wales at St John Baptist School in Aberdare to take lessons in RE. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, from Swansea, announced he was retiring last week to take up a role at Cambridge University.

The Archbishop of Canterbury taught an RE lesson at a school in Aberdare this morning.

Dr Rowan Williams, who's originally from Swansea, announced he was retiring from the position last week.

He was joined at St John Baptist School by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan

The Archbishops of Canterbury and Wales will be visiting St John Baptist School in Aberdare to take lessons in RE. The two senior church leaders are spending the morning at the school following an invitation from pupils last year.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, from Swansea, announced he was retiring last week to take up a role at Cambridge University.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, today paid tribute to fellow Welshman Dr Rowan Williams for his work as Archbishop of Canterbury.

He said, “Dr Rowan Williams has been the most able Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the Church once he’s gone.

“He has worked tirelessly over the past decade to hold the Anglican Communion together, taking very seriously the views of those who differ from him. He has tried to encourage everyone to work together, rather than to pursue their own agendas, and that is always a difficult task.

“In Wales, of course, we’ve been particularly proud of him and he’s been a wonderful ambassador for our country. He’s always delighted to return and has an official Welsh weekend every year – next weekend in fact – when he’s always welcomed back with open arms.

Rowan Williams is to step down after 10 years as Archbishop of Canterbury to take up a new post as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Dr Williams, 61, will leave at the end of December. Born in Swansea in 1950, he was bishop of Monmouth before being elected archbishop of Wales in 1999.