Archbishop of Canterbury joins fellow worshippers on dawn run and prayer session

The Archbishop of Canterbury has gone on an early morning run and prayer session with a sports group who meet to exercise and explore their faith.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby, who is on a two-day visit to the Diocese of Rochester, ran 5km before stopping to pray.

“I do pray while I’m running, but the prayer is usually for the run to stop,” the archbishop said.

Members of The Men of Bidborough sports group, who call themselves The MOB, joined the archbishop on the run.

The group’s organiser, Licensed Lay Minister Graham Wilkinson, 58, said sport is a good way of broadening Christianity’s appeal at a time when “men aren’t so much coming into church”.

He said: “It is really a way to reach men who aren’t in contact with the church. That way you start to build relationships and fellowship with men.

“When you build those strong bonds then you can start talking about issues in their life and start talking about what they believe in and don’t believe in.

“It is a chance for us Christians to talk to them about why we became Christians.”

Meeting the archbishop was a “great experience” and he was “very interested” in what the group was doing, Mr Wilkinson added.

The group set off in the cold at 6.30am and ran for 30 minutes before stopping to pray in Bishopscourt.

The archbishop goes to three diocese each year. As part of his trip to Rochester he has visited places including a school, a Gurdwara and a homeless shelter.

He also went to a nightclub in Chatham to meet a Christian group who help people stay safe on nights out.

“I’m about 100 years too old for nightclubs but it was so encouraging to visit Tap N Tin and see the chaplaincy team in action – they provide vital care and support for those who find themselves vulnerable on a night out,” the archbishop tweeted on Monday.

As part of the Archbishop’s visit, a service about modern slavery will be held at Rochester Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon.