Archbishop of Canterbury visits Camden school

The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of his love of poetry on a visit to a Camden primary school.

Dr Rowan Williams, himself a prolific writer and published poet, said he remembered learning Tennyson’s poetry at school and that his favourite poet was W. H. Auden – who famously explored religious and ethical issues in his verse.

Reciting one of his favourite poems, he said: “Break, break, break, On thy cold grey stones, O Sea!”

The leader of the Church of England visited Argyle Primary School in Tonbridge Street, King’s Cross, for poetry week yesterday (Wednesday, January 18).

He spent the morning listening to the children’s writing and shared some of his own verse with them.

Later he took a meditation session with final year children and then chatted with the children as they ate their lunch.

The archbishop, who visits schools regularly, said he knew the school through local Anglican vicar, Reverend Christopher Cawrse, at Holy Cross Church in Cromer Street, King’s Cross.

“It was an opportunity to come and see what a good community school was doing in this area and it certainly lived up to my expectations,” said Dr Williams.

“It was wonderful to see very young children being encouraged to take poetry seriously.”