Archbishop of York speaks of ‘pain’ of thousands who died
THE Archbishop of York has told how he “cries out for the pain” of the thousands of people who have died by themselves and the families unable to attend socially distanced funerals during lockdown.
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell spoke to members of the General Synod at a meeting yesterday, which was held remotely via Zoom after the group’s July sessions were cancelled.
It marked his first public appearance since he was confirmed as Archbishop on Thursday in a ceremony that was also conducted virtually.
“I hugely miss our church buildings and our liturgy, just as I also miss going to the cinema and eating in restaurants, or just having a coffee,” he said in a joint presidential address given alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
“And I grieve for the fact that I was not able to say goodbye to the diocese of Chelmsford in the ways I wanted, nor am I able to hug my new grandson without donning a mask.
“And I cry out for the pain of all those socially distanced funerals, the thousands of people who have died alone, the baptisms, weddings and ordinations that have had to be postponed.”
Archbishop Cottrell warned that the Church of England and wider society both face “turbulent times” in the wake of the outbreak, and said the Church has become “tribal and divided”.
He said some forthcoming recommendations about how the Church can re-engage with sacramental life would be easy to predict, and that there would be more difficulty in working out “also what might have to stop” as a result of the pandemic.
But he emphasised no conclusions had yet been reached, and said that he hoped to present some proposals to the Synod in 2021.
He emphasised the need to listen to the voices of younger Christians, and “all those whose voices are not usually so easily heard”.
Earlier in the week, Archbishop Welby said the foundations of society “have been shaken to the core” by the effects of the pandemic.