Families and Households Commission

L-R: Co-Chair of the Commission, Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham; Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; Chair of the Commission, Professor Janet Walker OBE and Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York

Established in March 2021, the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households was asked to explore what families and households of all shapes and sizes need to flourish.

In its new report – ‘Love Matters’ – the Commission has outlined five ambitions to support and strengthen family life.

We must:

  • Value families in all their diversity
  • Support relationships throughout life
  • Honour singleness and single person households
  • Empower children and young people
  • Build a kinder, fairer, more forgiving society

In their foreword, Archbishop Justin and Archbishop Stephen write:

"This report focuses on issues to which we can all relate in some way, for good and ill. Whether it is those we live with, are related to, or the people we choose, family is usually the source of both our greatest joy and deepest sorrow. It is the place where we find our most profound fulfilment and most intense disappointment, where we experience the messiness and wonder of life… ‘Love Matters’ delivers a powerful, deeply compelling call to action for all of us: put families first."

You can read the report here:

Live launch

Stream the live launch of the report on our YouTube channel.