The Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams – the former Archbishop of Canterbury, a renowned theologian and poet, and one of the UK’s leading intellectuals – has agreed to be a Patron of Operation Noah. 

Dr Williams joins the economist Ann Pettifor as an Operation Noah Patron. 

The former Archbishop is also a longstanding advocate for environmental protection and action on climate change. Dr Williams previously backed Operation Noah’s fossil fuel divestment campaign and more recently signed our March 2026 Open Letter to GB News co-owner Sir Paul Marshall. Dr Williams also gave the address at Operation Noah’s 20 Year Anniversary service which was held at St John’s Waterloo on 18 November 2024. In that address, Dr Williams said: 

‘For twenty years, Operation Noah has been urging us to be…a Church that is a sign of promise-keeping and stability, a sign of commitment to the world in which we’re placed. It’s challenged the Church to risk its security for the sake of that vision. It’s challenged each one of us. The Church, like each one of us, has responded, let’s say, unevenly, so far. The work remains, to put it mildly. And yet Operation Noah has continued to hold the collective feet of the Church to the fire. In this case to a fire of faithful love, which is the heart of God.’ 

Operation Noah’s Chair of Trustees, Revd Dr Darrell Hannah, said, ‘Dr Williams is not only one of the most respected thinkers of our time, but also a person of deep courage and conviction, unafraid to challenge injustice, including the grave injustice of human-caused global heating. We are deeply honoured that he has accepted our invitation to become an Operation Noah Patron.’