Press Releases09 Jul 08

Anglican Primate of Australia Welcomed to Ireland

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Alan Harper OBE, today warmly welcomed the visit to Ireland of the Most Revd Phillip Aspinall, Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate of the Anglican Province of Australia. Archbishop Aspinall will spend time in both Armagh and Dublin, where he will attend the consecration of Canon Trevor Williams as the new Bishop of Limerick and Kilaloe in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on Friday 11 July.

Archbishop Harper said that he hoped Archbishop Aspinall and his wife would enjoy their short spell in Ireland and went on, ‘I met the Archbishop at the Primates’ Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2007 when we worked together on the Primates’ Statement. I am particularly hopeful that the work which he has been leading within the Anglican Communion on the interpretation and authority of Scripture may prove to be a very helpful contribution.’ 

Archbishop Aspinall will act as principal spokesman for the Anglican Communion bishops attending the 14th Lambeth Conference which meets in Canterbury from 20 July to August 4. He will chair a daily press conference during the Lambeth meeting at which he will be joined by bishops with specialist experience in the theme of the day. The themes to be covered by the bishops in their discussions range from climate change and the Millennium Development Goals to Anglican identity and the role of the Covenant in the future of the Communion.