In the bar with the archbishop...

By Rhodri Lewis BBC News

Orange juice in hand, Rowan Williams joins the post-meeting bar chat UK needs help, warns archbishop

I don't usually hang around outside bars waiting for them to open.

But this Saturday morning, I had a good excuse: I was joining the head of the Anglican church for a drink and chat.

I turned up with around 50 others to listen to the Archbishop of Canterbury at Edwards Bar in Cardiff city centre.

Eventually, a barman let us in and showed us upstairs, and I was struck at once by the smell of stale beer and a sticky carpet to match, the legacy of hundreds of good nights out.

Soon afterwards, the guest of honour arrived.

Dr Rowan Williams may usually make his comments from a cathedral pulpit.

Hell is being by yourself for ever. Who's going there? God knows Rowan Williams faces a tricky question

But instead he was sharing his thoughts on the subject, "Can God mend broken Britain?" from the type of pub where the less elevated among us are tempted to put the world to rights after one drink too many.

Everyone sat around on brown leather sofas for this meeting organised by a group Solace, which arranges such events in pubs and clubs. It was very comfy.

But what an analysis!

Dr Williams said this was a society that "doesn't seem to like itself very much". He argued that "we look around for people to blame".

And he said: "We feel that somehow or other we are always at risk of collapsing still further."

Hmm. A stark appraisal, and as you'd expect from members of his flock, his audience of Christians listened intently.

Then the floor was opened for questions: "Is the church sexist? What was his definition of sin?"

My personal favourite: "What's hell like and who's going there?"

The audience enjoyed a video introduction to Dr Williams's talk

And the response? Nothing about intolerable heat and a red man with horns. No.

"Hell is being by yourself for ever. Who's going there? God knows." Think about it. Very enigmatic.

Then the killer question: "Who's he voting for in The X Factor?"

After discussing weighty theological issues that have perplexed churchmen for years, the Archbishop looked slightly taken aback. There was a pause.

"We quite like JLS", said the young organiser, helpfully.

"I have to say I don't watch it," said the main man.

After all, not even such a distinguished figure can answer every question satisfactorily, can he?

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