The next Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome

Archbishop Rowan Williams and the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome last night announced their appointment of the Most Reverend David Moxon as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. 

Archbishop David Moxon is currently the Bishop of Waikato, Senior Bishop of the New Zealand Dioceses, and an Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.  He succeeds the Very Revd Canon David Richardson, previously Dean of Melbourne and of Adelaide (Australia). Canon Richardson will retire at Easter, and Archbishop Moxon will take up his appointment in the early summer.  He will remain co-chairman of ARCIC, the Anglican –Roman Catholic International Commission. He is married to Tureiti. They have four adult children.

Archbishop Rowan Williams in congratulating Archbishop David on his appointment said:

“I am personally delighted that Archbishop David Moxon has agreed to take up the joint post of Archbishop’s Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.  There can be few people in the Communion so well qualified for this work.  Archbishop David has done distinguished service to the Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue both locally and globally, and brings to this post both a wealth of experience and a range of profound friendships across the confessional frontiers.”

Archbishop David Moxon responded: 

“I feel humbled to be called to the role of Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.  My predecessor Canon David Richardson, together with Margie his wife, has carried out an extraordinary ministry, taking the Centre on a quantum leap forward.  It is a pleasure and a privilege to build on what they have achieved. 

This appointment occurs at a time when ‘receptive ecumenism’ is making its presence felt as an opportunity to engage in honest dialogue about our two churches’ respective wounds, needs and opportunities.  Already there is considerable interest in the potential of such an approach as commended by phase three of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC-3).  This appointment also occurs at a time when the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) has been restarted.  The atmosphere of our relations in these commissions is positive and hopeful:  we are, I believe, on the cusp of a new kind of engagement and relationship which will focus on attending to each others’ deepest needs and working in solidarity with each others greatest mission challenges.  Jesus’s prayer that we all be one will come about through increasing degrees of communion borne of increasing degrees of companionship and prayer.

The Anglican Centre has been—and will continue to be—an embodiment of these hopes and a place where this vision can be nurtured and demonstrated more and more.  Dialogue that leads to shared mission projects can only facilitate the coming in of the Kingdom of God, which is why we journey in hope together.  I look forward to being part of this quest and believe it is a privilege to work on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry and the Anglican Communion as whole in the time ahead.”

The Very Revd David Richardson, retires as Director at Easter

The Anglican Centre in Rome seeks to enable Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue at every level and to encourage the formation of friendly and informed relationships between Roman Catholics and Anglicans. It gives opportunities for Roman Catholics to learn more about the Anglican tradition and Anglicans to learn about the Roman Church. A place of study, for groups and individuals, the Centre offers hospitality, dialogue and prayer in the search for unity.

As the Centre is in Rome there are warm and very close links with our diocese in Europe, and we do all we can to support its vital work. Personally I am very pleased to learn of Archbishop David’s appointment. I have known him through our ecumenical work together on Anglican-Roman Catholic relations, especially more recently since his appointment as Co-Chairman of ARCIC and my own appointment as Co-Chairman of IARCCUM, the International Anglican-Roman Commission on Unity and Mission.

We wish Archbishop David and Tureiti every blessing as they prepare to take up this new ministry.

The website of the Anglican Centre in Rome is here.

The official press release is here.