The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Hon and Rt Revd Justin Welby, spent Holy Week in the Maidstone Deanery, visiting churches, children’s groups, businesses and community outreach projects.
The visit focused on areas of revitalisation and where collaboration in the local community is leading to growth and regeneration.
Archbishop Justin said: “Christian faith is rooted in the history of Jesus and particularly the story of Holy Week and Easter. This is the most important week of the Church year – because the events we remember and celebrate make us who we are. In Jesus’ decisions, his teaching, his suffering, his giving of his life and his rising to new life, everything changes for everyone.”
The Archbishop’s busy week included private pastoral visits and public events, from solemn church services to a question and answer session in a wine bar. Throughout the week he saw the church in action in Maidstone where the bold outcomes for our diocese and the Church of England are being realised.
On Palm Sunday, Archbishop Justin visited St Philip’s for a parish breakfast and procession of palms, before
joining members of the congregation and local community at St Faith’s Centre for lunch. The new church and community centre opened in the Springfield and Ringlestone area of Maidstone in September 2023. In the evening, he preached at Firefall, a regional celebration hosted at St Luke’s, and attended by people from churches of different denominations across the Maidstone area.
Archbishop Justin then visited St Martin’s Ignite, a growing fresh expression of church, before a roundtable discussion on the housing crisis with the borough council.
The week also saw Archbishop Justin visit three schools, where he attended assemblies, blessing a handmade cross, answering questions, and joining pupils in games along the way.
Talking about the school visits, Archbishop Justin said: “The best question I’ve been asked this week is ‘how do we know that prayer works, and then with that, what happens when we worship, how do we know that we’re talking to God’. The answer is that God is faithful and loves us, and watches over us.”
Later on in the week, Archbishop Justin visited a care home, where he met residents and staff, as well as Anna Chaplains, Readers and retired clergy from our diocese. This was followed by youth events, feet washing at St Paul’s, and a walk of witness on Good Friday.
On Holy Saturday, Archbishop Justin visited the Maidstone Museum, before going to the oldest independent shoe retailer in the country and getting a haircut by hairdressing vicar The Revd Anthea Mitchell. He then went to Christian charity shop Making a Difference to Maidstone (MADM) and had lunch at All Saints Community Café. The evening saw him attend an Easter Vigil at St Michael and All Angels.
The Maidstone Deanery has 10 churches serving a population of 155,000 people and three church schools. Reflecting during the week, Area Dean of the Maidstone Deanery Gareth Dickinson said: “It falls on us, not to make a difference, but to be the difference. How might we bring further transformation to our communities so that everyone thrives in life physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually? God is in the business of transformation, and collaboration in our communities will bring transformation. Having Archbishop Justin here has been a great opportunity to showcase the brilliant work already happening in the Deanery and given us increased focus for doing more together as God’s church in this place.”
For Easter Day, Archbishop Justin preached at the morning Easter Eucharist services at Canterbury Cathedral, which were broadcast by BBC Radio 4 and BBC One respectively, followed by pronouncing blessing at the Evensong service, broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The Archbishop was joined by members of the Community of St Anselm during his visit, a community set up by Archbishop Justin for people aged 18-25 to experience a transformative year of shared life, prayer, study and service.