As I look to the new year and my forthcoming role as Archbishop of Canterbury, I draw upon my experience as a nurse working in the NHS. In this same spirit of service, both of these callings are shaped by my desire to uphold and support those in need, from all walks of life.

Good health care is incredibly important to me. It goes hand in hand with my Christian faith, inspired by Jesus's call for us to love and care deeply for one another. At St Thomas' Hospital, where I first trained, the chapel is a place of sanctuary for staff and patients, away from the busy wards.

The multifaith chaplaincy team is on hand to listen, pray, or simply sit with those going through life's most difficult and painful moments.

On the wall is a memorial to Florence Nightingale, who established the nightingale School of Nursing here in 1860, driven by her deep Christian faith and commitment to care.

More than 160 years on, I see that same care for patients in the porters, nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants and many others who work in our hospitals. At bedsides, in wards and theatres across our country, they work to bring healing, alongside countless other acts of kindness.

At the Children's Hospital, there are staff here who specialise in play therapy, softening the anxiety of a hospital stay and speeding up recovery. While places like this provide excellent care, we know that our hospitals are under increasing pressure, with social and palliative care services stretched, long waiting times, and severe strain on dedicated NHS staff.

But this can be eased. Community support can help deal with the root causes of many admissions. I see this in my own diocese in London, where people are delivering holistic support in different settings. Churches like SAINT in Hackney hold regular lunches, understanding that for many of us, a place to go where food is provided and there are people to talk to, can be as important as medical intervention for our physical and mental health.

Here, people from all over the world, from many different backgrounds, experience a warm welcome, a health check up if they need it, and importantly, the love of Jesus Christ, who showed us how to wash the feet of others.

In my calling now, I strive to carry the care and compassion that shaped my vocation as a nurse into everything that I do. The role of the church should be a healing presence in our nation, bringing people together at times of often intense division, caring deeply for those who are in need of our help.

Happy New Year.