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The New Archbishop of Canterbury: An Insight into the Selection Process

How is the New Archbishop Chosen?
The process of selecting the new Archbishop of Canterbury is structured and spiritual. When the previous Archbishop resigns, the CNC is tasked with discerning who God is calling to lead the Church. This process involves multiple stages, beginning with consultations with clergy, the public, and experts. Following these discussions, the CNC nominates a candidate whose name is submitted to the Prime Minister, and ultimately, The King for final approval. Once confirmed, the new Archbishop is publicly announced.

How Long Does It Take?

The process can take several months, as it includes prayerful reflection, public consultations, and detailed reviews. While there is no set timeline, the Church of England aims to ensure a smooth and timely transition so the vacancy does not cause major disruption to the church's operations.

When Will the New Archbishop Be Announced?

Once the CNC has reached a decision and the Prime Minister and The King have granted approval, the new Archbishop will be officially announced. This announcement is typically made through a formal statement from the Church of England.

Where Can the Public Find the Official Announcement?

The Church of England will communicate the official announcement through its website, press releases, and major news outlets. These will provide details about the new Archbishop’s background, the selection process, and what the future holds for the Church under their leadership.

Why Does the Process Take Time?

The time invested in the selection process ensures that the chosen Archbishop possesses not only the necessary leadership qualities but also a deep spiritual calling for the role. It’s a careful, thoughtful process that reflects the significance of this high-profile position within the Church.

Who Are the Potential Candidates?

Several distinguished bishops are being considered for the role of Archbishop of Canterbury. Among the leading candidates are:

Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle, known for her leadership on safeguarding issues and her outspoken call for the resignation of Justin Welby.
Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, with a background in nursing and public health, currently overseeing functions typically managed by the Archbishop.
Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, an Iranian-born refugee, and the Church of England’s lead bishop on housing.
Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, an ecologist and beekeeper with a focus on environmental issues.
Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells, an epidemiologist who played a key role in the Church’s Covid task force.
Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, with experience in the Crown Prosecution Service and a background in Indonesia.
Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, the first Black female bishop in the Church of England, who served as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II.
These candidates bring a wealth of expertise in areas such as safeguarding, public health, and environmental advocacy. Ultimately, the decision will be based on who is best suited to lead the Church through its current challenges and opportunities.

What are the key responsibilities of the role of Archbishop?
The Archbishop 
- is responsible for the spiritual health of multiple dioceses, which means they have to ensure that all clergy under their jurisdiction are living up to the church’s standards and leading well.
- has the authority to ordain new priests and deacons, and they make sure that these individuals are well-prepared for their roles in the church.
- provides spiritual and professional advice to clergy, helping guide them through complex situations and difficult decisions.
- are the face of the Church to the wider public, engaging with media, addressing societal issues, and representing the Church’s interests in public and interfaith dialogues.
- is tasked with maintaining unity within the Church, resolving conflicts and ensuring that factions within the institution remain connected.
- is responsible for overseeing financial decisions, staffing, and outreach efforts, ensuring the Church operates smoothly and sustainably.
- performs important liturgical services, from ordinations to special ceremonies, all while making sure that church traditions are upheld.

What are some of the stresses of the role?
High Expectations: The Archbishop is under constant scrutiny. There’s immense pressure to maintain a high moral standard and to provide spiritual leadership for millions of people.

Dealing with Controversy: The Archbishop is often called upon to address controversies, such as the recent abuse scandal, which can be emotionally taxing and involve navigating complex issues of justice and reconciliation.

Decision Fatigue: The Archbishop must make decisions that impact the entire Church. This constant decision-making can be exhausting, and the pressure to make the right choice can be overwhelming.

Balancing Tradition with Change: The Church has to adapt to modern issues while staying true to its traditions. The Archbishop is at the forefront of ensuring that the Church stays relevant while preserving its history.

Isolation: Despite being surrounded by advisors and fellow clergy, the Archbishop is ultimately responsible for the final decisions. This level of responsibility can feel lonely, especially when faced with tough choices.
A Prayer for Wisdom and Guidance

Heavenly Father,
We ask for Your wisdom and guidance as the Church of England selects its new Archbishop of Canterbury. Grant clarity and unity to the Crown Nominations Commission as they discern Your will. Fill those in consideration with humility, wisdom, and a deep sense of Your calling. May this process be led by Your Spirit, bringing the right leader to guide Your Church in faith, love, and truth. We trust in Your timing and provision, knowing You will raise up the right person for this vital role.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
  

'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'

Some rather random rummaging on one of my bookshelves last week turned up a little book I had completely forgotten I owned – “The Wisdom of Julian of Norwich”.

She was a fascinating character living around the turn of the 15th Century, during the time of the terrifying pandemic often referred to as the Black Death, the Peasants’ Revolt against the Poll Tax led by Wat Tyler and the rise and subsequent aggressive suppression of the Lollards – English fore-runners of the 16th Century Reformation inspired on the Continent by Luther and Calvin.

Turbulent and unsettling times in this country and across the Channel.  

Julian was distressed by the turmoil and suffering she saw around her; she became an anchoress.  You may be more familiar with the masculine “anchorite” – someone who elects to be “anchored” to a single dwelling for the duration of their life, to spend their time in solitary prayer and contemplation.

When Julian was “30 years and a half” she suffered an illness so severe that she was thought to have died; on her apparently miraculous recovery she revealed that she had been privileged with a graphic vision – I think she would feel “experience” to be a more accurate word – of the agony of Jesus on the Cross, followed by his Resurrection.  She called this a “Shewing” and wrote an immediate account of it (now known as the “Short Text”) followed ‘twenty yere saue thre monthys’ later by the much expanded “Long Text”– having spent the intervening time in her Norwich cell, meditating on, and trying to extract, the deeper meaning of the event.

During her life of seclusion, she achieved a number of “firsts” – an accolade in which I feel she would have been profoundly uninterested – being the first recorded English woman mystic, and perhaps more significantly for later generations such as ourselves, the first woman to write a book in English (or at least the first whose writing has survived).  At the time, Latin and not English, was the accepted language of literacy and scholarship.  She was also daring enough – at a time when deviation from the accepted norms of Catholicism was a serious offence – to write of God as Mother as well as Father: “Our Saviour is our true Mother in whom we are endlessly born and out of whom we shall never come.”

We don’t know whether Julian was sufficiently educated to write her books herself, or whether she dictated them – but her work is full of inspiring and quotable quotes which have a habit of lodging themselves in the mind and heart.  Here are a few more for you to take into the weekend (and beyond) with you:

“See that I am God. See that I am in everything. See that I do everything. See that I have never stopped ordering my works, nor ever shall, eternally.”

“...we need to fall, and we need to be aware of it; for if we did not fall, we should not know how weak and wretched we are of ourselves, nor should we know our Maker's marvellous love so fully...”

“God is everything that is good. All life’s pleasures and comforts are sacramental; they are God’s hands touching us.”

“We are made exactly as God wants us to be. We only need to lift our minds above Earth’s empty sorrows so that we can rejoice in the Divine joy.”

And finally – a prayer that we can all try to share: 
“God, of thy goodness, give me Thyself; for Thou art enough for me . . .”

Jenny

Food for thought

Despite the popular narrative of religion’s decline in the West, a recent survey offers hope for churches struggling to stay relevant. The study challenges the idea that faith is fading and provides insights for churches looking to reconnect with younger generations.

Commissioned by author Christopher Glasson ahead of his book The Devils' Gospels: Finding God in Four Great Atheist Books, the survey of 10,000 Britons explored their views on religion. The findings show that while young people may not be attending traditional church services, they are spiritually open and seeking something more meaningful.

One key takeaway from the survey is that young people, especially those under 25, are not as likely to identify as atheists. Only 13% of this age group consider themselves atheists, and a significant 62% describe themselves as “very” or “fairly” spiritual. In contrast, 25% of Generation X (ages 45-60) identify as atheists, suggesting that while traditional religion may be on the decline, spirituality is far from dead among younger generations.

Glasson warned that the survey revealed a significant gap between how the church defines spirituality and how young people understand it. Many young people feel disconnected from the institution of the church, often due to past scandals and the church’s perceived irrelevance to their daily struggles. Nearly half of Christians surveyed (43%) said they have a personal understanding of God, which differs from traditional church teachings. How can we listen more to the spiritual needs of younger generations and connect with them?

Young people also want churches to be more involved in their local communities. About a third of respondents believe churches should focus on building relationships and supporting those in need. We demonstrate this by hosting community events, offering support groups, or being volunteer programs that address local issues such as food poverty or mental health but perhaps we need to be more intentional, promote these links more effectively and make it easier for young people to become involved. Moving beyond Sunday services and creating tangible connections will help foster a sense of belonging.

Transparency and accountability within the church are also critical for young people. More than 30% of survey respondents believe churches should address past issues of abuse with honesty and implement measures to prevent further harm. Small churches have an opportunity to create safe spaces where people can heal, seek forgiveness, and build trust.

Traditional religious practices may not appeal to younger generations, but many are still searching for spiritual meaning, often through mindfulness, nature, or personal reflection. We could consider offering alternative spiritual practices, such as meditation groups, outdoor prayer sessions, or mindfulness workshops to provide a modern way for young people to explore their faith while staying true to their spiritual journey.

We might also consider incorporating contemporary worship styles, like acoustic music or creative arts, which appeal more to younger people. Informal worship gatherings and opportunities for service-oriented missions could also help engage this generation. Additionally, with the right help, we could create online platforms for spiritual growth, such as virtual prayer meetings or podcasts, making faith more accessible.

In conclusion, while traditional Christianity faces challenges, there is an emotional and spiritual void many young people are eager to fill. We do have an opportunity to connect with this generation by listening to their spiritual needs, engaging with their communities, and embracing new forms of ministry. We have an opportunity to become places of hope and spiritual fulfillment for young people, helping them find deeper meaning and connection in today’s world. 

Recently we celebrated the festival of Candlemas, when we remember Mary and Joseph presenting the infant Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem.  It’s thought that the festival of Candlemas may have ‘Christianized’ a much earlier pagan festival, called Imbolc, which marks the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  It’s not difficult to see why – the pagan festival celebrated the return of the light, the renewal of spring with its fertility and growth.  A sign of hope after the darkness of winter.  

And as Christians, we too can give thanks to God for what is occurring at this time of year in the natural world.  We can celebrate the certainty of the seasons turning, the excitement of new life emerging.  I admit that I never fail to get excited when I see the first tiny lambs wobbling around in the fields!  But the Christian celebration of Candlemas is about so much more than the return of light and lengthening days. When, in the gospel story, the old man Simeon takes the infant Jesus in his arms, he declares Jesus to be a light for revelation to the whole world!

But what is the Christ-child revealing to the world? The writer to the Colossians says of Jesus, ‘He is the image of the invisible God’ (Colossians 1.15).  In Jesus, God is revealing himself to us.  So it makes sense that if we want to know anything about God, a good place to start is by looking at Jesus, who declared himself to be the light of the world.  If we want to know what God has to say, we can listen to the words of Jesus.  If we want to know what God is like, and how God feels towards us, we can look at the actions of Jesus, how he loved people, and how he went to such great lengths to demonstrate that love.

Perhaps as we start to notice signs of life around us in the natural world, we can use what we see to reflect on God presence amongst us.  We can give thanks that after all has seemed dark and lifeless, there is light and hope.  Let the spring rains remind us of the water of life promised by Jesus, giving refreshment where we are weary.  As seeds begin to germinate and push up, we can dig into the soil of God’s word so that we can grow in faith.  Let the warmer breezes on our faces remind us that God’s spirit is always with us.  As we enjoy the daylight hours stretching out once more, let's allow the turning season to remind us again that the Christ-child is Emmanuel, God with us, the light of the world, not just for Christmas but for all time.  

Life Balance: A Five Session Course on Rest, Work, and Play!

In five interactive sessions, Life Balance aims to help groups explore: How to build Sabbath time into the crazy pressures of everyday life. How ‘Sabbath attitudes’ can transform the way we spend our time. 

Meeting weekly in the Vicarage 3 Elizabeth Gardens in Kintbury.

Start time 10am with optional coffee following at 11.30 am.

11th March

18th March

25th March

1st April

8th April

“The quality of mercy is not strained – it droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven . . “.  This is the opening of Portia’s famous speech in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Justice and mercy have been on my mind this last week, following the annual commemoration, in Kintbury Churchyard, of the execution of a young, uneducated, family man – William Winterbourne – sometimes called “the Kintbury martyr”.  He was hanged 194 years ago, almost certainly as an example to deter others, for his part in the agricultural uprisings known as the “Swing Riots”;

Living conditions for the rural poor had deteriorated sharply following the Act of Inclosure of 1773, whereby landowners were permitted to enclose common lands which for centuries had provided subsistence for “commoners” who had been allowed to graze animals, collect firewood. grow crops for their families and even live on allocated strips of land.

Impoverished labourers across the south of England were burning barns and smashing farm machinery in protest against starvation wages and loss of employment caused by the invention of the threshing machine.  William was one of these, and paid the ultimate penalty for his involvement.  I often wonder what became of his wife and family – the workhouse, I suspect.

Justice and mercy are twin threads running through the pages of the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament.  An often quoted verse comes from the Book of Micah, probably dating to somewhere around 700BC “. . . what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” 

When I was reading, this Hebrew Prophet, with thoughts of William Winterbourne and his contemporaries fresh in my mind, I was struck as never before by these words in Chapter 2, which could have been written at any time in the 18th and 19th centuries in rural England:

“They covet fields and seize them,
And houses, and take them;
they oppress a man and his family,
a man and his inheritance.” Mic2.2.

Over two and a half thousand years ago in ancient Palestine – two hundred years ago in this part of our own green and pleasant land.  And today, as we look at the world around us – it can be hard not to feel that justice and mercy are all too frequently neither valued nor practised by governments and rulers. 

Jenny

Dear All

Next year all parishes will be required to prepare new electoral rolls before their APCMs. Everyone who wishes to remain on the electoral roll will need to reapply. It is a good opportunity to encourage new eligible parishioners to enrol so they can have a say in how their local church is run. 

In order to make enrolment as simple as possible early in January an envelope of enrolment forms will be pinned to the church notice board and a box left out to collect returns. The form will also be emailed out to our contacts which can be completed and returned by email or printed out. The rules permit electronic signatures, so it is sufficient for application forms to have a typed name where a signature is required if submitting from a personal email address. 

Thank you for your support.
Annette

Dear All
Just a gentle reminder that Isobel's next session on performance and voice coaching for the benefice is on 28th Jan at 2.30pm in St Mary's Church.  Do come along even if you are confident in your delivery in church. It is an opportunity to support and encourage each other. It is good to have feedback in a positive environment.
If you are interested in being involved in reading in church but want to 'have a go' before committing why not come and join us to see how it feels?  The last one was great fun.
Isobel has asked that we bring something like a short poem we enjoy reading to share.
Annette

Our two Labradors are now aged 9 and 10 years. Dave and I are conscious that they are becoming elderly in human years. We have started to look for signs that they are maturing. I can report that they show no signs.

Daisy still excitedly bounces in circles when she thinks she is going to be fed, and Yukki never slows down demanding a stint of ball throwing even when she has just returned from a long walk over Hungerford Common.  They chase up the stairs to take the best spot on the double bed or down it when they hear anyone opening a food cupboard in the kitchen. They behave like toddlers rolling around and play fighting when they are hungry, and Yuki snuggles up to Daisy to sleep with her nose tucked into her haunches as she did when she was a tiny puppy.

Just like Daisy and Yukki, many of us may find ourselves holding onto a youthful energy or excitement, even as time passes.

Aging is seen as a natural part of God’s design for life, one that invites us to embrace the changes, uncertainties, and challenges it brings with grace. The Bible speaks about aging in Psalm 92:14, where it says, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” We may not always feel fresh and green, but I hope we all appreciate that there is value and purpose in every season of life.

My dogs continue to exhibit exuberance, their unwavering vitality a reminder that I am never too old to find joy, to be active in my relationships, and to share love.

The love and connection between them reflect the beauty of companionship and loyalty that can deepen with age and I witness so much of this happening in the community and in church. Christian teachings encourage us to be faithful and present for one another as we age and to find wonder in God.

In the end, the “weariness” we feel in the face of possible loss serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. Yet, as Christians, we are reminded that this is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God, where there are no more signs of aging, no more pain, and no more sadness. Until then, we are called to live each day with the same excitement, love, and joy that Daisy and Yuki show—celebrating the moments, knowing we are part of a greater story that God has written. 

Good Morning,

We have cancelled the 8:30am Service in Inkpen on Sunday (Tommorow) due to the weather conditions.

We have a service in Kintbury and West Woodhay later on in the Morning. 

12/01

8:30am Inkpen                             Holy Communion - BCP - CANCELLED

9:45am Kintbury                          Holy Communion - CW

11:15am West Woodhay           Morning Prayer
Kind Regards
Tamara 
07359 327072
Office Administrator
Walbury Beacon Benefice
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