Archbishop of Canterbury's Message to the People of Norway


The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent his prayers and sympathy to the people of Norway following the tragic events in Oslo and Utøya last Friday.


His message is as follows:
"Along with all the faithful of the Church of England, I want to express my deepest sympathy with the people of Norway in the wake of the appalling events of recent days. Norway has played so great a part over many years in international reconciliation as well as developing its own distinctive national ethos of openness and fairness, and it is a special tragedy that it should suffer this outbreak of senseless carnage. Our prayers are with all those who died and all those who mourn them; and we are grateful for the many signs of strength and spiritual maturity that the Norwegian people have shown in their response to evil and destructiveness." 

(The Church of England and the Church of Norway are in communion, as a result of the Porvoo Agreement. Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien (below), is due to be installed as the first Praeses (Presiding Bishop) of the Church of Norway on 2 October). 


 

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