Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams visits Cork

The former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams visited Cork this weekend where he marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of Christian Aid in Ireland with a ceremony at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

Dr Williams, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 until 2012 and is the current Chairperson of the Board of Christian Aid, spoke at a special Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday to mark the founding of the charity in Ireland in 1946.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, said Archbishop Williams' attendance was a wonderful recognition of the work of Christian Aid.

“Loving our neighbour, not only the person we know and like, but also the stranger in our midst and far away out of our sight, is a fundamental tenet of Christianity, given to us by Jesus Christ himself,” said Bishop Colton.

"Christian Aid, and indeed our own Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal with which it works in partnership, helps us all to do this ecumenically, regardless of race and religion. Seventy years of this work through Christian Aid is indeed something to celebrate and be thankful for.

“It is a truly historic and significant occasion for the Church of Ireland in Cork, and by extension for the city and region, that a former Archbishop of Canterbury is honouring this occasion with his presence in this way.”

Bishop Colton said that as well as marking 70 years of Christian Aid, the service was an opportunity for Christian Aid to give thanks for the generosity of the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross for their prayerful support of the charity’s rebuilding work in Haiti over the past three years.

Andrew Coleman of Christian Aid (Cork) said that with support from Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal, the Cork diocese has raised more than €44,000 for its "Houses for Haiti" project to build new homes for families that lost everything when a major earthquake hit the island in January 2010.

“We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the churches, schools and communities in Cork for their ongoing support for the work of Christian Aid over the years,” said Mr Coleman.

“We have had overwhelming support for Christian Aid fundraising events including Christian Aid Week, the annual Sheep’s Head Hike and other local community fundraising efforts. This has made a huge difference in changing the lives of people living in extreme poverty around the world.”