The Archbishop of Canterbury will launch a new beer brewed by St Laurence Church

Getting ready to brew: Rev Jacobson (centre) with Paul Wenham Jones (left) and The Four Candles owner Mike Beaumont

A visit to Thanet by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will include the launch of a beer by St Laurence Church in Ramsgate.

The Archbishop will be touring Thanet between March 24-31, visiting schools and churches, as well as holding a public Q&A at the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate.

One part of his tour will be the launch of the new St Laurence Gridiron beer – brewed by St Laurence minister Andrew Jacobson with help from The Four Candles micro pub in Broadstairs.

Rev Jacobson said the beer would be a creative way of raising money for the church, which is one of five in the area that fall under his ministry.

He said: “Similar to other Anglican churches, the Thanet parish share to be paid to the diocese for five churches is around £100,000 per year. It is a big amount to find so I have been looking at creative ways of raising money.

“I have been a member of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) since my 20s and enjoy a pint of real ale so thought it would be quite nice to brew a beer that we could sell to raise money for the church.”

Rev Jacobson was put in touch with The Four Candles owner Mike Beaumont and the beer was created with the help of the pub’s brewer Paul Wenham Jones.

Rev Jacobson said: “It is a monastic style beer, Belgian wheat style, and 6.8%, so similar to Leffe.

“It is called St Laurence Grid Iron as St Laurence was martyred on a gridiron and so the iron is the emblem of the church.”

Archbishop Welby will stop at The Four Candles during his Thanet tour for a private event to launch the beer.

It will be available from next month and will be sold at The Four Candles, The Conquerer micropub in Grange Road, The Offy in Broadstairs, at the church’s Summer fete and will be available at the Planet Thanet Beer Festival on March 30 and 31.

Rev Jacobson said: “I am also going to tout it around the local hostelries in st Lawrence and have spoken to the Sir Stanley Gray. Parishioners will also be able to fill in an order form for bottles.

“I can’t quite believe it is actually happening but hope it will be a win for us and for local beer lovers.”

Archbishop Welby will also be at several public events during his tour of Thanet, including the Walk of Witness in Broadstairs on March 30.

He ill also be at the Academy FM studio in Ramsgate this Sunday (March 25). He will be on air, accompanied by Rev Jan Durrans from St Peter’s church, for a chat with  James and Mary Pringle. They are on air from 3pm to 6pm and will chat with the Archbishop from 4.30pm to 5pm.

Meet the Archbishop

Saturday, March 24 at Holy Trinity, Margate

6:30-8pm
Thanet Deanery Celebration

The opening service for the week of the Archbishop’s visit.

Dream Team Celebration, Monday, March 26
​St. Luke’s Ramsgate, 7pm-9pm
​Join the Church Army’s Centre of Mission to hear about the ongoing mission and evangelism across Thanet and what the future may have in store.

Tuesday, March 27 at The Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate

7:30pm – 9:00pm
Question Time
​A chance to ask questions to the Archbishop on any topic.
​If you want to submit a question in advance, click here

Pilgrimage from St. Augustine Cross to Minster Abbey
Wednesday, March 28, meet at St. Augustine’s Cross at 12:30pm. Finish at Minster Abbey at 3pm.

​Walk of Witness in Broadstairs
Friday, March 30, 10:3am-11:30am
Set off from Balmoral Gardens at 10:30am
arrive at the Bandstand at 11.00am.

Easter Vigil
​Saturday, March 31, 6:30pm-8:45pm at Holy Trinity Broadstairs