Family and Society

The Archbishop holds as central to his work and mission the importance of family and civil society. Protecting and supporting those in crisis, the institution of marriage and fostering good childhoods are constant themes in his public remarks.

April 2008

24 April 2008
Archbishop Pays Visit to The Deptford Churches Centre and 999 Club Homeless Centres
The Archbishop of Canterbury is Patron to both homeless charities in Deptford and paid visit to them to meet staff, supporters and the homeless.

23 April 2008
Archbishop answers stimulating questions at Westminster School
The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed Upper School Pupils at Westminster School's Sir John Locke Society and answered their questions on religion, ethics and politics. Listen to the audio and read the text.

22 April 2008
Crisis Homeless Charity Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Crisis charity aims to fight homelessness and empower people to fulfil their potential and transform their lives. The Archbishop and HRH Princess Alexandra are patrons of the charity. They held a reception at Lambeth Palace to celebrate 40 years of success.

December 2007

20 December 2007
Pause for Thought on Terry Wogan, BBC Radio 2
Every Child is Precious

11 December 2007
Tea and Toast with the Archbishop
The Archbishop of Canterbury invited three Kentish teenagers to his home in Canterbury for tea and toast and to answer their questions for a magazine interview

October 2007

27 October 2007
Service of Thanksgiving
For 25 years of Helen House, Oxford

February 2007

05 February 2007
Get a Life: Speech at Launch of National Marriage Week
The Archbishop spoke about the importance of marriage at the launch of National Marriage Week [beginning 5th February] 2007, which was held in the Jubilee Room of the House of Commons. Other speakers included the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Anne Atkins.

December 2006

13 December 2006
Commercialisation of Childhood - Archbishop's Interview on BBC 1 Breakfast Show
The Archbishop was interviewed by Bill Turnbull on BBC 1's Breakfast programme on December 13th 2006, on the issue of the growing commercialisation of childhood. A report by the independent group Compass, had been published that day, drawing attention to the problem. The following is a transcript of the interview:

September 2006

18 September 2006
Interview: The Good Childhood Inquiry
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams appeared on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning [18th September 2006] to talk about the Children's Society's The Good Childhood Inquiry which is being launched today. He was interviewed by James Naughtie; a transcript of the interview appears below.

June 2006

16 June 2006
Father's Day interview transcript
The following is a transcript of the Archbishop's interview with Mary Rhodes for Heaven and Earth show and was broadcast on 6th June 2006.

April 2005

11 April 2005
Formation: Who's bringing up our children?
Citizen Organising Foundation lecture, Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End

March 2003

26 March 2003
Children and Parents - House of Lords debate
On March 26th 2003 the Archbishop of Canterbury made his maiden speech in the House of Lords. This came during a debate on Lord Northbourne's motion "to call attention to the role of parents in providing for the needs of the nation's children in the 21st century and to the case for making available more encouragement and support for parents; and to move for Papers." The full text of the Archbishop's speech follows.

September 2004

29 September 2004
Children at War - A lecture given at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London