Canterbury

By Lisa Barrowclough
Lambeth Conference Communications

Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey launched his newest book, Canterbury Letters to the Future, at a reception sponsored July 21 at the University of Kent by Kingsway Publications.

Archbishop Carey was inspired on St. Thomas's Day 13 years ago, when he saw a group of young children playing outside the West Front of Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop said he was struck by a great contrast as he viewed the scene - a background of rich history that included the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Beckett in 1170, and a foreground of the future that was yet to be written in the lives of the children.

In his introduction to the book, Archbishop Carey said he set out to write some "letters to the future" - to share with his grown-up grandchildren "the things we have most surely believed, the Christian faith which, inherited from the past, we have made our own." The Archbishop's book, which includes 10 letters, is intended as "a book on Christian doctrine for lay people." It was written in cooperation with theologian Dr. Ruth Etchells.

Dr. Carey extended many thanks during the reception, and particularly, he said, to his grandchildren "because the future belongs to you."

Eileen Carey, wife of the Archbishop, also was given the opportunity to speak about her book, The Bishop and I, written with the help of her son, Andrew Carey, deputy editor of the Church of England newspaper. It was published two months ago, but "it has only come to reality at this conference because the contributors are here," she said.

Mrs. Carey thanked Michelle and Frances Chang Him, twin daughters of French Chang Him, Bishop of Seychelles in the Province of the Indian Ocean, who are working at the Lambeth Conference as volunteer stewards. They contributed the final chapter which is the story of their mother, Susie Chang Him, who died of cancer and in whose memory the book is dedicated. "Susie died before she could tell her story," said Mrs. Carey. Mrs. Carey expressed sincere thanks to all of the bishops' spouses who "entrusted" her with their stories and allowed their experiences to be shared in this collection.