Justin Welby

Dear Editor,

I confess I was surprised and dismayed on reading the news article by Rebecca Chapman about Justin Welby in the May issue of en.

Our current Archbishop is continually under attack from many sides of the Anglican Communion. I gather he has received a lot of ‘hate mail’, especially over same-sex relationship blessings. I think that by stating that he would not conduct any such services or ceremonies, he was indicating that he, personally, was not in favour, even though he voted to allow the General Synod to go ahead with this legislation.

As leader of the vast and diverse Anglican Communion, Justin Welby will know well the saying: ‘You can please most of the people most of the time, but you cannot please all the people all of the time.’ Our Archbishop needs all the prayer and support he can get! I believe that the Rector of All Soul’s Langham Place, Charlie Skrine, was wrong to criticise Justin Welby in public and to make it known that he was no longer ‘his friend’.

By all means express your disappointments in private and to the Archbishop in person. But this news will have thrilled our arch enemy Satan, the devil, and will be fuel for the sceptical press to use for their purposes.

Skrine’s outburst does nothing for Christian Unity and does not serve the cause for spreading the gospel.

Rather, non-believers might well say: ‘See how these Christians love one another!’ in heavy irony! I have to ask the question: ‘What would Jesus have said?’ in this context.

Skrine has done a great disservice to the Church and Justin Welby who, like all his predecessors is not infallible nor perfect, but is striving to keep the Church of England together during these torrid times.

He needs our love and prayers.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Grieve, Folkestone