Archbishop Sarah has visited the Diocese of Rochester to meet with clergy and congregations working and worshipping in parishes, chaplaincies, healthcare settings and church-run projects across the diocese. Hosted by Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Rochester, it was her second pastoral visit since becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, and a return to Rochester, following her pilgrimage there in March.
Archbishop Sarah started the weekend at the Living Well Cafe at St Stephen’s Tonbridge, hearing about the many ways the church serves the community, from its larder to its care home ministry and prison chaplaincy. She also met with some of the church’s young people to hear how they are being supported to grow in their faith and become young Christian leaders in their own schools and daily life.
After lunch, the Dean of Rochester Cathedral, Philip Hesketh, and Head Gardener Graham Huckstepp gave Archbishop Sarah a tour of the King’s Orchard Gardens. Based at the Cathedral, the gardens are specifically designed to improve health and wellbeing for the community, and Archbishop Sarah heard more about the pioneering work the Cathedral is planning in this area, including the introduction of a music programme.
In the afternoon, Archbishop Sarah met with the multi-faith chaplaincy team at Medway Maritime Hospital, hearing about the transformative impact of chaplaincy ministry on patients and staff. After being greeted by the Anglican chaplain, the Rev Canon Ruth Bierbaum and Chief Nursing Officer Evonne Hunt, Archbishop Sarah heard from clinical staff and a patient about the difference that the chaplains make to hospital life.
She later joined with chaplains and paramedics at the South East Coast Ambulance Service, where she was given a tour of the control room and ambulances, hearing how the chaplaincy service supports staff from call handlers to dispatchers and clinicians, in a range of challenging environments.
On Sunday, Archbishop Sarah and Bishop Jonathan walked to Chatham to visit St John’s, which has recently been renovated after 25 years of closure. The Archbishop preached on the theme of patience at an all-age family service and chatted with members of the congregation over coffee afterwards.
In the afternoon, she met with young people at the St Barnabas Bike project in Orpington, run in partnership with Youth for Christ. The project provides training and free parts for young people from the local community to build and maintain their own bikes. A keen cyclist, Archbishop Sarah helped the mechanics sand down a frame of a bike, before praying with the young people.
Archbishop Sarah concluded her visit to the Diocese of Rochester at St Nicholas Church, Chistlehurst, for a choral evensong service. During the service, she was gifted a stole, which had been made by some of the church’s children and young people.
Reflecting on the visit, Archbishop Sarah said: “Spending time in Rochester Diocese has shown me the multitude of ways that the church is embedded in this community, constantly reaching out, but also encouraging people to come in, so that they can experience the love of God that we know in Jesus Christ. From food banks, music programmes and bike projects to hospital and ambulance chaplaincy, I have witnessed the ways that the church is sharing the love of God in its community.”
