Archbishop of Canterbury meets Northampton volunteers, care home residents and NHS staff on county visit

Hosted by the Bishop of Peterborough, Bishop Debbie Sellin, Archbishop Sarah spent the weekend of May 16 and 17 meeting clergy, volunteers and community groups across Northamptonshire.

Her visit to Northampton began at Abington Church, where she met the Revd Jun Kim and volunteers behind the church’s community initiatives. Known locally as “Church in the Park”, the church runs art-led activities in its churchyard for families, schools and charities.

Among the projects highlighted during the visit was Ribbons of Prayer, which saw more than 20,000 prayers tied to the churchyard railings by members of the public.

Archbishop Sarah then visited St Christopher’s Care Home, where she met residents, staff and members of the Anna Chaplaincy. The chaplaincy supports older people through friendship, ministry and spiritual care.

During a coffee morning in the home’s chapel, the Archbishop prayed with residents and toured the grounds with staff.

Later in the day, she attended a service at Church of the Holy Sepulchre led by rector the Revd Oliver Coss. She also met volunteers and service users from the Northampton Hope Centre, which has partnered with the church to support homeless people in the town.

The visit continued at Kettering General Hospital, where Archbishop Sarah met nurses, palliative care teams and multifaith chaplains. She thanked NHS staff for their work and acknowledged the pressures faced by healthcare workers.

Before leaving the hospital, she laid a wreath in the Covid memorial garden in remembrance of those who died during the pandemic.

Reflecting on the visit, Archbishop Sarah said: “It has been a real privilege to spend time with Bishop Debbie and congregations across the Diocese of Peterborough.

“Spending time here has re-emphasised to me the way in which the Church is a source of hope to our communities.”