The Archbishop of Canterbury was met with brilliant sunshine and singing children on the streets of Truro this morning.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby came to Truro as part of his Journey in Prayer tour of the UK ahead of his official enthronement on March 23.
The archbishop said he wanted to come to Cornwall as he did not feel he knew enough about the region. It was also announced he will be returning to Cornwall for three days in November.
The Archbishop arrived on Lemon Quay at just after 10am and was greeted with songs from children at Truro's Archbishop Benson school.
He told the children: "It's absolutely amazing to see you. It's really good to meet you and a real privilege."
Addressing the crowd, the Archbishop said how grateful he was for the brilliant Cornish sunshine that had not been present when visiting other places in the UK such as Coventry, Norwich and London.
He said: "It's an absolutely wonderful treat for me to be here. "The principal reason I'm in Cornwall is that it sometimes gets forgotten.
"I'm coming back in November for three days and it's going to be a big three days."
The Archbishop said he had only been to Cornwall twice before in his life but said the region had a lot in common with his previous diocese in Durham.
When asked why he had chosen Truro as one of the cities to visit on his tour the Archbishop said: "I felt I had a lot to learn here. It's not an area I know and there are lots of powerful things happening here.
"I wanted to come right to the end of the province of Canterbury."
The Archbishop will spend the day in prayer at Truro Cathedral and all members of the public are welcome to attend.
The Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, welcomed the news that the Archbishop would return in the autumn.
He said: "This is wonderful news. So often we in Cornwall feel that we are merely an outpost of the Church of England and on the margin of things."
The Most Reverend Justin Welby came to Truro as part of his Journey in Prayer tour of the UK ahead of his official enthronement on March 23.
The archbishop said he wanted to come to Cornwall as he did not feel he knew enough about the region. It was also announced he will be returning to Cornwall for three days in November.
The Archbishop arrived on Lemon Quay at just after 10am and was greeted with songs from children at Truro's Archbishop Benson school.
He told the children: "It's absolutely amazing to see you. It's really good to meet you and a real privilege."
Addressing the crowd, the Archbishop said how grateful he was for the brilliant Cornish sunshine that had not been present when visiting other places in the UK such as Coventry, Norwich and London.
He said: "It's an absolutely wonderful treat for me to be here. "The principal reason I'm in Cornwall is that it sometimes gets forgotten.
"I'm coming back in November for three days and it's going to be a big three days."
The Archbishop said he had only been to Cornwall twice before in his life but said the region had a lot in common with his previous diocese in Durham.
When asked why he had chosen Truro as one of the cities to visit on his tour the Archbishop said: "I felt I had a lot to learn here. It's not an area I know and there are lots of powerful things happening here.
"I wanted to come right to the end of the province of Canterbury."
The Archbishop will spend the day in prayer at Truro Cathedral and all members of the public are welcome to attend.
The Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, welcomed the news that the Archbishop would return in the autumn.
He said: "This is wonderful news. So often we in Cornwall feel that we are merely an outpost of the Church of England and on the margin of things."
