PREPARATIONS have been made and a huge sense of excitement is building as Liskeard gets ready for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.

The leader of millions of Anglicans around the world is visiting the town as part of a tour of Cornwall.

It is the first pastoral visit to a diocese to be made by the archbishop since his enthronement in March this year – and the occasion is being described as an enormous privilege and opportunity for the town by Canon Tony Ingleby, priest-in-charge at Liskeard, Dobwalls and St Keyne.

The main purpose of the visit to Cornwall is so that the archbishop can meet and support those who are engaged in service to less-well-off communities across the county, said a spokesperson for the Diocese of Truro.

The archbishop will meet with clergy and other groups and individuals who are 'providing practical help for families and individuals facing difficult times'.

His programme for the three-day visit from Friday, November 15, to Sunday, November 17, includes a visit to the Launceston Food Bank and Money Centre, walkabouts in Launceston and Penzance town centres, and a meeting with Christians at a skatepark, as well as church services in Penzance, Truro, Bodmin and Liskeard.

Churchwarden Tim Marshall, who has been attending St Martin's Church in Liskeard for 50 years, said that the church community is feeling 'thrilled to bits' ahead of the archbishop's visit.

Invitations have been sent out for a buffet lunch at the Eliot House Hotel in the town, and the archbishop intends to mingle, and speak to as many people as he can during the hour, said Mr Marshall.

'The archbishop has asked to meet representatives of different groups in the town, reflecting the whole cross-section of our community,' he said, adding that the archbishop had expressed a particular interest in meeting young people. Among the many organisations to be represented at the lunch will be the Scouts and Young Farmers, as well as the police and Liskeard Town Council.

'He's very laid-back and he's using the time here to see what makes things tick – it's very unusual, but from Liskeard's point of view it's brilliant,' said Mr Marshall.

On the Sunday, the archbishop will preach and lead worship at 10am at St Martin's Church. The service is open to anybody who wishes to attend.