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The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England in the Church of England, which is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury holds a number of other positions, including being the joint president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom. Since the 20th century, the appointment of archbishops of Canterbury has alternated between Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals. The most recent Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was the 105th holder of the office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Archbishop of Canterbury | Justin Welby |
| Date of Appointment | 4 February 2013 |
| Previous Archbishops | George Carey, Rowan Williams |
| Archbishop of Canterbury during the English Reformation | Thomas Cranmer |
| Archbishop of Canterbury who attended a papal funeral since the Reformation | Rowan Williams |
| Archbishop of Canterbury who was the first to attend a papal inauguration | Donald Coggan |
| Archbishop of Canterbury who was the first since 1397 to visit Rome | Geoffrey Fisher |
| Archbishop of Canterbury who voluntarily resigned | Randall Davidson |
| Archbishop of Canterbury who died in office | William Temple |
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What You'll Learn
- The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and leader of the Anglican Communion
- The Archbishop is appointed by the British monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister
- The Church of England is considered part of the broader Western Catholic tradition
- The Archbishop holds other positions, including co-president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the UK
- The Archbishop has an official residence at Lambeth Palace in London
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and leader of the Anglican Communion
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of all England and the archbishop of the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, which includes the area of England south of the former counties of Cheshire and Yorkshire. The Archbishop exercises metropolitical (or supervisory) jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, which encompasses thirty of the forty-two dioceses of the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury has a ceremonial provincial court, consisting of some of the senior bishops of their province. The Bishop of London, the most senior cleric of the church, serves as Canterbury's provincial dean, while the Bishop of Winchester serves as chancellor, and the Bishop of Lincoln as vice-chancellor.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the British monarch, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, on the advice of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. The prime minister confirms that the nominee is willing to serve and recommends them to the monarch. The Canterbury College of Canons then formally elects the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the election results are affirmed by the king or queen. The Archbishop takes office at a Confirmation of Election ceremony held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, with an installation ceremony later held at Canterbury Cathedral.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is also the president of Churches Together in England, an ecumenical organisation. In addition, the Archbishop holds several other positions, such as being the joint president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom.
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The Archbishop is appointed by the British monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England and the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, which includes the area of England south of the former counties of Cheshire and Yorkshire. The Archbishop holds metropolitical (or supervisory) jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, encompassing thirty of the forty-two dioceses of the Church of England.
Historically, the Archbishop of Canterbury was in full communion with the Catholic Church and received the pallium from the Pope. However, during the English Reformation in the 16th century, King Henry VIII broke communion with Rome, proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England, and appointed Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury, in 1533. Since then, the archbishops of Canterbury have been selected by the British monarch, with the current process involving several key steps and stakeholders.
Firstly, the Crown Nominations Commission, a Church of England body, plays a crucial role in the selection process. This commission is comprised of 17 voting members who interview candidates and must reach a two-thirds agreement for a nomination to advance. The commission advises the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who then confirms the nominee's willingness to serve and recommends them to the monarch. The monarch's approval triggers the formal election process by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral, and the elected archbishop is enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral.
While the British monarch has the final say in appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury, the process involves consultation and collaboration between various parties, including the Crown Nominations Commission, the Prime Minister, and the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral. This ensures that the appointment is made with careful consideration and the support of key stakeholders in the Church of England and the government.
The most recent Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was enthroned in 2013 and was the 105th holder of the office. He resigned in January 2025, and the process of appointing his successor is currently underway.
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The Church of England is considered part of the broader Western Catholic tradition
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England in the Church of England. The Archbishop holds metropolitical or supervisory jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, which encompasses thirty of the forty-two dioceses of the Church of England. The Church of England is the established national church of England, and it considers itself part of the broader Western Catholic tradition.
The Church of England was an integral part of the Western European Church until the English Reformation in the 16th century, when King Henry VIII broke communion with Rome and proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England. Since then, the Church of England has considered itself part of the broader Western Catholic tradition, although this is not accepted by the Roman Catholic Church, which regards Anglicanism as schismatic and does not recognise Anglican holy orders as valid.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and is formally elected by the college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop holds a number of other positions, such as being the joint president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom and a president of Churches Together in England, an ecumenical organisation.
The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine of Canterbury, a Benedictine monk sent from Rome by Pope Gregory I to convert the Anglo-Saxons in England. He arrived in 597 and was well-received by Aethelberht I, king of Kent, who allowed him to preach and gave him a place to live in Canterbury. The most recent Archbishop, Justin Welby, was the 105th holder of the office and was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on 4 February 2013.
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The Archbishop holds other positions, including co-president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the UK
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England. They are considered the first among equals in the Anglican Communion, which is a worldwide body of Anglicans. The Archbishop holds metropolitical or supervisory jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, which includes 30 of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the British monarch, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, on the advice of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. The Archbishop also has an official residence at Lambeth Palace in London, in addition to a palace in Canterbury.
Historically, the Archbishop of Canterbury was in full communion with the Catholic Church and received the pallium from the pope. However, during the English Reformation in the 16th century, King Henry VIII broke communion with Rome and proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England. Since then, the archbishops of Canterbury have been selected by the British monarch, with the most recent archbishop being Justin Welby, who took office in 2013.
In addition to their primary role, the Archbishop of Canterbury holds other positions that contribute to interfaith relations. One notable position is their role as the co-president or joint president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom. This role reflects the Archbishop's commitment to fostering understanding and cooperation between different faith communities.
The Archbishop also serves as the president of "Churches Together in England," an ecumenical organization that promotes unity and collaboration among Christian churches in England. Furthermore, since 2002, the Archbishop has co-sponsored the Alexandria Middle East Peace process with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, further demonstrating their involvement in interfaith initiatives for peace.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's participation in these diverse roles extends their influence beyond the Church of England and contributes to their standing as a prominent religious leader in the United Kingdom and on the world stage.
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The Archbishop has an official residence at Lambeth Palace in London
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England. The Archbishop exercises metropolitical, or supervisory, jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, which encompasses 30 of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England. The Archbishop is appointed by the British monarch, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, on the advice of the prime minister.
Lambeth Palace has been the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and includes historic rooms and spaces. The palace features a magnificent White Marseille fig tree, which was brought to the palace by the last Roman Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Reginald Pole, in 1556. The Crypt Chapel is the oldest part of the palace, originally used for wine and beer storage, and the main Chapel has been changed many times over the centuries. The Great Hall dates back to the early 13th century and houses a large collection of manuscripts, books, and documents. The newest part of the palace is the Atrium, which was opened in 2000 and connects the main palace building with the chapel and crypt.
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Frequently asked questions
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and primate of all England. The current archbishop is Justin Welby, who was elected in 2013.
No, the Archbishop of Canterbury is Anglican. The Church of England broke with the Catholic Church in the 16th century during the English Reformation when King Henry VIII proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury exercises metropolitical jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury, which encompasses 30 of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England. The Archbishop is also the president of Churches Together in England and holds a number of other positions.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the prime minister and is formally elected by the college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral. In practice, candidates are chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission, a Church of England body that advises the prime minister.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a palace in Canterbury and an office and official residence at Lambeth Palace in London.
