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Refugee crisis: Archbishop of Canterbury offers Syrians sanctuary at Lambeth Palace

His gesture follows a similar move by the Catholic church after Pope Francis said two refugee families would move into Vatican housing

Dominic Harris
Tuesday 22 September 2015 13:43 BST
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The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby has warned the UK will cross a 'legal and ethical Rubicon' if Parliament votes to let terminally ill patients end their lives
The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby has warned the UK will cross a 'legal and ethical Rubicon' if Parliament votes to let terminally ill patients end their lives (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

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The Archbishop of Canterbury has promised to offer sanctuary for Syrian refugees at Lambeth Palace.

Justin Welby will welcome people fleeing the war-ravaged country in a four-bedroom cottage at the palace, his official London residence.

His gesture follows a similar move by the Catholic church after Pope Francis said two refugee families would move into Vatican housing, but Lambeth Palace said it was something the archbishop has been considering for "a while".

A spokeswoman said the cottage in the palace grounds is currently being redecorated and could provide room for a "family or two".

She said: "As a Christian who leads the Church of England it is something he feels absolutely passionate about.

"As the archbishop has said, Jesus was a refugee, and there are refugees here who are desperate for sanctuary from war-torn places and the archbishop is completely torn about their situation and wants to make a difference."

The rent for the refugees will be paid for by charitable funds under the archbishop's personal control, the Sunday Times said.

PA

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