The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion visits the Church of the Advent in Boston

Posted on: May 5, 2026 2:48 PM

From left: The Rt Revd George R. Sumner, retired Bishop of Dallas; the Rt Revd Ian Douglas, Assisting Bishop in the Diocese of Massachusetts; the Rt Revd Julia E. Whitworth, Bishop of Massachusetts; the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and the Revd Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff, Rector of the Church of the Advent, Boston (2-4 May, 2026)

Photo Credit: Evan Cioffi-Maxwell

Related Categories: Bishop julia Whitworth, Boston, Diocese of massachusetts, Secretary General, The Episcopal Church

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, has visited Boston in the Diocese of Massachusetts (2-4 May). His programme combined preaching at the Church of the Advent in Boston’s Beacon Hill district and meeting with the Bishop of Massachusetts (the Rt Revd Julia Whitworth), as well as clergy, parishioners and students from the local community. The visit was made during a year of major celebrations in Boston marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Founded in 1784, The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts on the eastern coast of the United States of America and is one of the oldest in The Episcopal Church. It is made up of 170 worshipping communities, including parishes, missions, chaplaincies, schools, intentional and monastic communities and camps, which are committed to operating within the core values of ‘Welcome, Courage, Justice and Joy… all in the service of Love’.

May 3: Visiting the Church of the Advent in Boston

Bishop Anthony visited the Church of the Advent on May 3, where he was hosted by the Rector, the Revd Canon (Father) Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff. Bishop Anthony preached at both the morning Sung Mass and the Solemn Mass on Sunday.

Referencing the challenging issues facing the world at this time, Bishop Anthony’s sermon explored themes of Church unity, the importance of the Anglican Communion and spiritual growth that builds on the promises of God.

Quoting John 14:1 and Christ’s encouragement to ‘do not let your hearts be troubled’, Bishop Anthony said: ‘We live in a troubling world where we are anxious of many things… as we are all aware, we have concerns over our globe – conflicts in many parts’. Bishop Anthony said that Jesus’ words recorded in the Gospel of John are ‘what keeps some of the believers in many of these situations to keep going on’, empowering them to be ‘resilient even in the midst of their challenging situations’.

The Church of the Advent in Boston is a parish established in the Anglo-Catholic tradition and founded in 1844. The church prides itself on being a centre of worship, with music being described as an ‘integral part’ of worship, learning and culture. It has a longstanding commitment to outreach and mission, facilitating the longest-running community dinner in Boston, for individuals and families experiencing housing and food insecurity.

The church also has a legacy of service to the local community through ministry with adult education as well as students, and is known for collaborative partnerships that extend across the country and around the globe, such as mission links with Kenya, Ghana and the Middle East and continuing to support inter faith dialogues in Alexandria.

Theological discussion and education are also key pillars of the church’s ministry, lived out through regular ‘Theology on Tap’ sessions with various theologians and weekly ‘Christianity 101’ meetings.

The spirit of interfaith and ecumenical dialogue is something that the Rector (Fr Alistair) and the community at the Church of the Advent also prioritise both in the city and internationally.

Fr Alistair is an experienced convener and facilitator of difficult and complex dialogues in interfaith contexts at the intersection of the Christian and Muslim worlds. He has experience in leadership in this capacity at the World Economic Forum and the King Abdullah Center for Interreligious and Interfaith Dialogue in Vienna prior to his current role. He was also a former assistant to the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury and editor of The Anglican Way journal.

Speaking about the Secretary General’s visit, the Revd Canon Alistair said: ‘The Church of the Advent is grateful to Bishop Anthony Poggo for taking the time to visit our 182-year-old multigenerational parish in Boston, Massachusetts, and to speak to the greater community about the future of the Anglican Communion. Bishop Anthony has had a remarkable career in the very challenging interfaith context of South Sudan, before working for the Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and then the worldwide Anglican Communion.’

May 4: Bishop Anthony addresses parishioners and students

On May 4, Bishop Anthony spent time with the Bishop of Massachusetts, the Rt Revd Julia Whitworth. Her ministry centres on the Cathedral Church of St Paul in the city of Boston.

Bishop Anthony also gave an address after Sung Matins at the Church of the Advent to parishioners and students from local colleges and universities, including Suffolk College (an urban institution known for its immersive inner-city campus), Wellesley College (a women’s liberal arts university), Boston College, and Boston University, which teach vocational and academic courses, respectively.

Bishop Anthony spoke about the history and the future of the Anglican Communion, the Five Marks of Mission and the role of the Anglican Communion Office (ACO). He shared more about his role as Secretary General in undertaking solidarity visits to Anglican Churches in areas of conflict or crises, his focus on listening and encouraging member churches, as well as the importance of continuing to strengthen relationships as one family.

Speaking about the Secretary General’s visit to Boston, Bishop Julia said that it was ‘an honour and a blessing to welcome Bishop Poggo to Massachusetts. I am grateful for the opportunity for our diocesan community to worship with him and learn from him about the connections that bind us all into a shared Anglican Communion. Through his leadership and ministry, Bishop Poggo reminds us that in this time of division and conflict around the world, it is especially important for us to embrace, celebrate and contribute to the unity of the wider Anglican family’.

The Secretary General described his time in the Diocese of Massachusetts as 'a valuable opportunity to learn about the ministry of the diocese. I thank the Church of the Advent for hosting me and inviting me to speak both to parishioners and local students about the heritage and shared mission of the Anglican Communion and impart stories and perspectives from around the world. It was especially enjoyable to visit the city of Boston during such a landmark anniversary of 250 years of the United States’ independence, of which Boston was such an important part in that history.

‘It was wonderful to spend time with Bishop Julia during the course of my visit and to strengthen this relationship through discussion and mutual encouragement. I enjoyed learning more about what ministry looks like in this part of the Communion and seeing the vital role the Church plays as part of the worldwide Anglican family. I continue to hold the Diocese in my prayers.’