2007 speeches archive

December 2007

31 December 2007
Archbishop's New Year Message - God 'Doesn't Do Waste'
Video and full text of Archbishop Rowan Williams' New Year Message, on the theme of care for the environment - and each other

24 December 2007
Archbishop's Christmas Eve Thought for the Day BBC Radio 4
The Archbishop reflects on continuing conflict in the Holy Land and how an answer might be found by recognising each others inherent humanity.

20 December 2007
Pause for Thought, the Terry Wogan show, BBC Radio 2
Every Child is Precious - children and homelessness

19 December 2007
Climate Change Action a Moral Imperative for Justice
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has said that the case for action on climate change is a moral as well as a practical one, challenging the world's rich and powerful nations to act with justice towards future generations and to the world's poorest.

17 December 2007
Archbishop's Speech at the Launch of the Government's Inter Faith Consultation
The Archbishop spoke at the launch of a new document, issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government, on inter faith relations.

12 December 2007
Christmas Words of Wisdom
The Archbishop appeared on the Chris Evans show on BBC Radio 2 with a message about Christmas.

06 December 2007
The Building Bridges Conference, Singapore
A transcript of the Archbishop's main address at this major conference on Christian-Muslim relations.

04 December 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury at the Opening Session of the 6th Building Bridges Seminar
A video of the Archbishop's address, with a full transcript

November 2007

28 November 2007
Video Message for World Aids Day
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said churches need to be brave, imaginative and honest in the fight against the spread of HIV and Aids.

27 November 2007
Greetings to the 9th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches
A message of support from the Archbishop for delegates attending the General Assembly.

October 2007

13 October 2007
How Religion is Misunderstood
A lecture given at Swansea University, focusing on some of the main misconceptions about religion put about by popular atheist commentators and writers, such as Richard Dawkins.

September 2007

10 September 2007
Faith Communities in a Civil Society - Christian Perspectives
The following is the text of an address given by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Christian Muslim Forum Conference in Cambridge on September 10th, 2007. In his address, Dr Williams considers the events and consequences of two very different events in history, both sharing the date of September 11th.

May 2007

16 May 2007
Multiculturism: Friend or Foe
Lecture given at Toynbee Hall

12 May 2007
Christianity: Public Religion and the Common Good
The following lecture was given by the Archbishop at St Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore.

April 2007

24 April 2007
'Freedom and Slavery' - Wilberforce Lecture 2007
The following is the text of an address given at the invitation of the Wilberforce Lecture Trust, at the City Hall in Hull. In it, the Archbishop speaks of the legacy of the campaigning Christian MP William Wilberforce and issues of faith and politics.

06 April 2007
New Heart - Easter Thought for the Day
The following is a transcript of the Archbishop's 'Thought For The Day' delivered on BBC Radio 4 on Good Friday, April 6th 2007.

March 2007

24 March 2007
Slavery and Freedom: Address to Worshippers on the Walk of Witness
A transcript of the Archbishop of Canterbury's address to worshippers at an open air service in Kennington Park. The service marked the conclusion of the Church of England's 'Walk of Witness' - a public act of repentance, restoration and remembrance for the slave trade and the Church's own historic role in it.

09 March 2007
South Africa - No-one can be forgotten in God's Kingdom

February 2007

28 February 2007
General Synod Debate on Lesbian and Gay Christians
The Archbishop made an unplanned intervention in the General Synod's debate on lesbian and gay Christians. The debate was on a private motion from the Revd Mary Gilbert of Lichfield diocese. The Archbishop's contribution was intended to address the possibility that, if both amendments and the substantive motion were all defeated, the Synod would end up being heard to say nothing on this subject. A transcript of the Archbishop's intervention follows.

27 February 2007
Fresh Expressions - 'the Life Blood of Who We Are'
In an introduction to a presentation on the Fresh Expressions initiative at the Church of England's General Synod, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of it being a central part of the Anglican Church: "to provide a place where Christ is set free in our midst". A full transcript of his introduction follows:

26 February 2007
The Anglican Communion - Archbishop's Presidential Address to General Synod
The Archbishop gave the following Presidential address to the General Synod of the Church of England at its February 2007 meeting. In it, he reported back on the Primates' Meeting in Tanzania, and surveyed the situation regarding the Communion and the ongoing debates about its future and structure. In a strong defence of continued Communion, he said: "The persistence of the Communion as an organically international and intercultural unity whose aim is to glorify Jesus Christ and to work for his Kingdom is for me and others just as much a matter of deep personal and theological conviction as any other principle. About this, I am entirely prepared to say 'Here I stand and I cannot do otherwise'. And I believe the Primates have said the same."

26 February 2007
The Future of Trident - General Synod Debate
At its February 2007 meeting, the General Synod of the Church of England debated a paper on the future of the Trident nuclear weapons system. The Archbishop's contribution to that debate, supporting the motion and arguing against the moral acceptability of nuclear weapons, is as follows.

26 February 2007
Welcome and Celebrate the London Olympics - Archbishop's Call to Churches
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams called for Churches to welcome and celebrate the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games, at the launch of 'More than Gold', an interdenominational initiative for Christians seeking to provide a positive and affirming Christian contribution to the 2012 Olympics. The text of his speech is as follows:

20 February 2007
Final Press Conference at Tanzania Primates' Meeting
The Archbishop of Canterbury made the following remarks at a press conference at the close of the Anglican Primates' Meeting in Tanzania.

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.

01 February 2007
Prison Reform Trust Lecture 'Criminal Justice - building responsibility'
In a speech given to the Prison Reform Trust, the Archbishop called for a commission of enquiry into the Penal Justice system, to address the problem of reoffending which stems from a lack of responsibility on the part of society as well as the offenders.

January 2007

01 January 2007
2007 New Year Message
Each year the Archbishop records a New Year message, which is televised on BBC1 and BBC2. The following is the transcript of the message recorded by the Archbishop and which was first shown on BBC2 on New Year's Eve 2006. It accompanied footage shot at the Southside shopping centre in Wandsworth, Holy Trinity Church, Clapham and the Archbishop's visit to Sudan.