We may be regularly reminded that Britain is a multi-cultural country with a population that follows a number of different religious faiths and – increasingly – no faith at all. But the Archbishop of Canterbury still plays a very significant role in British public life. That is why Justin Welby's visit to the Westcountry this weekend, is worthy of note and why his choice of places to visit, including, yesterday, a food bank in Launceston and a farm nearby, tell us something of his priorities in his role as head of the Church of England.
Different Archbishops demonstrate different styles. Few, however, can avoid controversy with their public utterances and Archbishop Welby will be no exception. Yet already his view of the world and those things that he considers important for the church to campaign about are becoming clear. One of Archbishop Welby's major concerns is most definitely the alleviation of poverty. Although he is patently a made of enormous faith, it is people, rather than church institutions, that seem to make him tick. One needs only to read his recent interview on the church's link with education to see that. Church schools, he says, may be moving away from faith-based entry tests and opening their doors to a wider group of pupils. Significantly, he makes the point that the main reason this needs to happen is to help alleviate poverty.
Last month it emerged Archbishop Welby had met with the Duchess of Cornwall to discuss the fight against poverty and earlier this week he warned that excessively expensive Christmas presents could 'spoil life' and that love and affection were more important for families at Christmas than material things.
The theme that is emerging is of a man wholly focussed on the human condition. If he directs the church he runs – which has enormous national and international clout – to concentrate more of its time on improving that condition, he is likely to win more followers and more supporters.
Of course, traditional Christians will expect that the work to alleviate poverty, improve education and drive home the message about family 'love and affection' will all come wrapped in a specifically Anglican message. Justin Welby will want that too, we are sure. One already gets the impression, however that of even greater importance to him is that no one who needs support is neglected.
