THE Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster were among the church leaders who attended an Advent reception hosted by the office of the Leader of the Opposition on Monday night.

Both Archbishop Welby and Cardinal Nichols also attended an equivalent event in Downing Street, last week.

At the reception, the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, praised churches around the country for their social work both in the UK and abroad, saying that the Church was “good news for young and old, both far and near”.

Sir Keir said: “I want to start by thanking each and every one of you for the immense work that you do for our country, day in, day out, year after year. While we are here to celebrate Advent together, I recognise that the Christian community is not just for Christmas.

“In times when so much seems broken, and our society appears somewhat fractured, I recognise that churches and charities often provide the glue that holds communities together.”

The Shadow Faith Minister, Baroness Sherlock, who was ordained priest in 2019, said: “This year, perhaps even more than most, I am conscious of the dark times in which we live.

“But as we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, I’m reminded that, so often, Jesus is referred to as a ‘light’. And he also refers to us — the Church — as a ‘light’.

“This winter, as well as providing spiritual light and hope for people, the Church is also providing physical light, hope, and warmth for people, by providing foodbanks, warm hubs, and community spaces. Thank you for the work you do. We recognise it and we support it.”

Baroness Sherlock has been a member of the House of Lords since 2010, and was given the shadow ministerial position this month (News, 8 December), after her predecessor, Sarah Owen MP, resigned in protest against Sir Keir’s position on a ceasefire in Gaza.

Archbishop Welby led prayer at the event on Monday, including — according to a Labour Party press release — prayer for the “ongoing conflict in the Middle East”.

Others attending included the Coptic Archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos, the chief executive of the Evangelical Alliance, Gavin Calver, and several Labour MPs.

Read Mark D’Arcy’s review of the year in politics here