Members of a church congregation in Frome recently welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior Bishop in the Church of England, for a special visit to bless a newly opened prayer shed, tour the church garden and enjoy a performance by a Frome Christian songwriter.
The Archbishop, Justin Welby, visited St Mary’s Church on Saturday 7th September, as the final stop on his tour through Somerset, part of a day of prayer across the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
During his visit, the Archbishop met with members of the congregation, was shown around the church garden and greenhouse, planted a grapevine, and blessed the new prayer shed – a former gardeners’ shed that has been repurposed as a permanent space for private prayer. Prior to his arrival, church members held a 24-hour prayer vigil in the prayer shed.
Reverend Liz Dudley said, “It is really special having the Archbishop because it completes a wonderful 24 hours in Frome, where we’ve been gathering to pray together. We have been praying for the transformation of our community, particularly our town of Frome, and for our growth in faith as Christians.
“Having the Archbishop here is like the icing on the cake of what has been a truly special couple of days. It is wonderful to welcome him to see our prayer shed, which provides a space for anyone to come and pray.”
Local songwriter Isabella Leathley shared her excitement about the Archbishop’s visit, saying, “It feels quite surreal because, having watched the coronation of King Charles, I saw Archbishop Justin putting the crown on his head, and now, here I am talking to him, shaking his hand, helping him plant a tree, and taking photos with him. It feels a bit like a dream. I even got to discuss with him that I write Christian songs, which felt amazing – to tell someone of his stature that I write and sing worship songs.”
Andrew and Elizabeth Alden, along with local resident Sophie Griffith, gave the Archbishop a tour of the church’s garden and greenhouse, where he sampled a freshly-picked tomato. Sophie explained, “It’s a garden that is seen by very few in Frome, so to get recognition from the Archbishop and see the fruits of our labours was brilliant. It was really exciting to have the opportunity to share the work that Andrew and Elizabeth have been doing with the youth in Frome.”
