Archbishop of Canterbury leads crowds in song at Merry Hill

There were prayers and singing as Justin Welby was joined by the Bishop of Dudley Graham Usher and Bishop of Worcester John Inge at this afternoon's event.

Ahead of their arrival a large crowd gathered eager to watch the service which was the culmination of the Archbishop's three-day tour of the Diocese of Worcester which included stops in Dudley, Halesowen and Lye.

He walked through the mall offering prayers for those visiting the shopping centre.

Crowds flocked to watch the event which included prayers written especially for the Archbishop's visit by two pupils from St James CE School in Wollaston.

The service was opened by Archdeacon Robert Jones who welcomed the audience before leading everyone in singing Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.

People also joined in with hymns including You Will Be Done On Earth Oh Lord and Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer in the atrium outside Marks and Spencer.

He was presented with gifts including a Black Country bible and a t-shirt with 'Bostin Archbish' across the front.

The Archbishop said he had been having a 'wonderful' time visiting the diocese. Before the event at Merry Hill he had attended a harvest service at Brickworks Church in Lye, Stourbridge.

On Saturday, he visited a refugee support project at Halesowen United Reformed Church and had a meeting with the Dudley Interfaith Network at Dudley Council House before the Power of Hope event at Dudley College with Malala Yousafzai. To end the evening he enjoyed a pint of Ma Pardoes in Dudley.

On Friday his visit began with an event at Worcester Arena where he was interviewed by Jeremy Vine about his life and his ministry.

His weekend also included a breakfast meeting with business leaders from across the Diocese at Worcestershire County Cricket Club and afternoon tea with the rural community at the Three Counties Showground.