The Church of England National Adviser for Ecumenical Relations, Rev Dr Matthias Grebe, spoke with the Archbishop of Canterbury about her ministry, the life of the wider church, the Anglican Communion, and the importance and role of ecumenism and hospitality in the churches. In the conversation below, the Archbishop responds to six questions, reflecting on these themes and on the opportunities and challenges ahead.
1. Something about your ministry that many people may not know
One thing people may not always see is how deeply rooted my ministry is in local parish life. Even in national and international roles, I try to keep listening to ordinary clergy and congregations, because the life of the church is sustained there, week by week, in prayer, pastoral care, and faithful service.
The ministry I feel called to as Archbishop is not about creating new programmes, but about spotting where the Holy Spirit is at work, encouraging the good work already happening and helping others to flourish. That conviction shapes how I hope to serve – calmly, consistently, and in partnership with others.
2. How has your background in nursing shaped your leadership?
Nursing taught me to listen carefully, to notice what is not being said, and to care for people as whole persons. It also taught me the importance of teamwork and humility: no one serves alone.
In ministry, that translates into trying to be a calm and attentive presence, especially in times of anxiety or disagreement. The church, like any community, carries wounds, and healing requires patience, honesty, and compassion. Nursing formed in me a pastoral instinct that is about washing feet, binding wounds, and helping people grow in hope.
3. Themes for your archiepiscopal ministry
I hope my ministry will be characterised by three things:
Confidence in the Gospel: encouraging the church to rediscover hope in Christ and not to be driven by fear or anxiety. To speak of our Christian hope.
Hospitality: creating space where people who disagree can still pray, listen, and walk together, trusting that unity is a gift of God.
Shepherd of the flock and Pastoral care: supporting bishops, clergy, and lay leaders so they can flourish in their calling, and ensuring safeguarding and accountability are always taken seriously.
These are not new initiatives, but a way of being church together.
4. Signs of hope and challenges in the Church of England
There are many signs of hope: growing prayer movements, faithful parish ministry, new communities forming, and people quietly discovering faith in Christ. Churches serving their communities day in day out. Often these stories are small and local, but they are real.
The challenges are also clear. Safeguarding is a fundamental, non-negotiable responsibility, sharpened by our past failings and shaped by the work we still have to do. Progress has been made in recent years, but we must build on these good foundations to make sure the church is safer for everyone.
We are also navigating deep differences within the church, and responding to a society that is often uncertain or divided. Our calling is not to pretend these challenges are easy, but to face them with honesty, patience, and confidence that God is at work among us.
5. What is the Holy Spirit asking our Churches to learn from one another?
I believe the Holy Spirit is asking us to offer and receive hospitality to create spaces in which we can rediscover we are all made in the image of God.
Across traditions we can learn humility, perseverance, and courage. Some churches teach us depth in prayer and liturgy; others witness to courage in mission; others to service among the poor. When we listen to one another, we see Christ more clearly.
Ecumenical friendship is not about losing identity, but about receiving gifts from one another so that our common witness becomes more credible in the world.
6. Opportunities within the Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is a remarkable family shaped by very different cultures and histories. That diversity can be challenging, but it is also a gift. Opportunities lie in listening more deeply to one another, supporting local churches facing hardship, and speaking together about hope, human dignity, and peace in a fractured world. When we pray together, share resources, and learn from one another’s experience, communion becomes tangible and our witness becomes stronger.
This piece first appeared in Ecumenical Matters, a monthly email produced by the Ecumenical team at Lambeth Palace. Subscribe here.
Photo: © Brendan Foster Photography
Rt Rev Graham Kings introduces us to the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally.