HUNDREDS of people attended St Martin's Church in Liskeard to take part in a communion service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Every pew was filled for the Sunday morning service, which saw the usual congregation swell to around 450 people.

Opening by saying it was a 'real treat to be here in this wonderful church', Archbishop Justin Welby's lighthearted, and at times mischievous, anecdotes allowed him to build an immediate and easy rapport with those listening. The more serious focus of his sermon seemed to be aimed at those leading parish churches: all denominations should spend time together and be united in following God.

'Advent is a great time for dealing with issues of division and forgiveness,' he said, urging churches to make the most of the time of year to engage with new members.

Referring back to the service's gospel reading from Matthew, Chapter 28, where the two Marys discover that Jesus has risen from the tomb, the archbishop said: 'The women don't form a working group or a committee, or apply for permission to roll out the stone – they just obey (God) and get on.'

The archbishop praised the 'uplifting stuff' that he had seen in the Cornish diocese during his tour, and the communities which he had seen pulling together to help those in need.

The Rev Canon Tony Ingleby, priest in charge of Liskeard, St Keyne and Dobwalls, said that the archbishop had clearly picked up on the needs and concerns of Cornish people during his short time in the county.

'It was an inspiring service. It was lovely to see so many visitors with us – we'd had no idea how many to expect. Everyone I spoke to felt they were welcome,' he said.

'Lots of people have contacted me to say how much they appreciated his visit and how much it meant to them.'

Mr Ingleby, for whom the archbishop's most important message was the point about 'seeing where God is working and going with it', said: 'The church's task is to take what God is saying and what God is doing out into the community.'

Following the service, the archbishop met with representatives of a range of groups from the Liskeard area at a buffet lunch held at the Eliot House Hotel. An open invitation was also extended to all those not going to the lunch to have refreshments in St Martin's Church Hall.

Mayor of Liskeard Sue Pike said that it had been great to see 'every aspect of Liskeard represented' at the meal.

'The archbishop made such an effort to talk to as many people as possible,' said cllr Pike, adding that she had spoken to him about her concerns on employment in the town. The archbishop's advice, she said, was that a town needed 'lots of small businesses employing five or six people' to thrive.