The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who founded the Community of St Anselm in 2015, says that its presence at Lambeth Palace is a daily reminder that prayer and service are at the heart of the life of the Church

Anthony Gardner: What inspired you to start the community?

Justin Welby: In 2013, I made the renewal of prayer and the religious life across the Church one of my personal priorities. This was never to say that I thought I, personally, was best placed to bring that renewal – it is God’s work, in collaboration with those called to live in community. But I wanted to make it clear that the religious life matters profoundly to the Church: it has always been the place where renewal begins.

Starting a community here was about ensuring that Lambeth Palace, which has its own rich tradition of housing religious communities, was committed to collaborating with the renewal that God so clearly longs for. When praying communities are supported and flourishing, their gift to the Church is beyond measure. In them, the broader Church finds inspiration and challenge, and is held in wise and loving prayer.