Back Aartsbiskop van Kantelberg Afrikaans Ercebiscop of Cantawarabyrig ANG رئيس أساقفة كانتربيري Arabic Arzobispu de Canterbury AST Архібіскуп Кентэрберыйскі Byelorussian Архиепископ на Кентърбъри Bulgarian Arquebisbe de Canterbury Catalan Arcibiskup canterburský Czech Archesgob Caergaint Welsh Ærkebiskop af Canterbury Danish
Archbishop of Canterbury | |
|---|---|
| Archbishopric | |
| Anglican | |
 Arms of the diocese of Canterbury: Azure, an episcopal staff in pale or surmounted by a pall proper edged and fringed of the second charged with four crosses pattée fitchée sable | |
| Incumbent: Vacant since 7 January 2025 | |
| Style | The Most Reverend and Right Honourable (otherwise His Grace) |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | Canterbury |
| Residence | |
| Information | |
| First holder | Augustine of Canterbury |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Established | 597 |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Cathedral | Canterbury Cathedral |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Anglican Communion |
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| Part of a series on Anglicanism |
| Organisation |
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The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop was Augustine of Canterbury, the "Apostle to the English", who was sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great and arrived in 597.[1] The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Justin Welby, the 105th archbishop, effective 7 January 2025.[2] During the vacancy the official functions of the office have been delegated primarily to the archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, with some also undertaken by the bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, and the bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin.[3][4]
From Augustine until William Warham, the archbishops of Canterbury were in full communion with the Catholic Church and usually received the pallium from the pope. During the English Reformation, King Henry VIII broke communion with Rome and proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England. Thomas Cranmer, appointed in 1533, was the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury and would become one of the most important figures in the development of Anglicanism.
The archbishop is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the prime minister of the United Kingdom and formally elected by the college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral. In practice, however, candidates are chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission, a Church of England body which advises the prime minister.[5][6][7] The Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments wrote to General Synod members regarding appointment of a successor to Justin Welby in January 2025; meetings up to September 2025 were expected, to shortlist candidates.[8]
- ^ "Announcement of the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury". Archbishop of Canterbury Website. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Orders in Council, 18 December 2024, page 42. [1] Archived, 22 December 2024
- ^ Ahmed, Jabel (6 January 2025). "Justin Welby lays down archbishop's staff as Church of England urged to undergo 'complete reform'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ Williams, Hattie (6 January 2025). "Archbishop Welby spends final day at Lambeth Palace in private". Church Times. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ Bailey, Pippa (12 November 2024). "The race for Lambeth Palace". The New Statesman. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Cabinet Office (15 November 2024). "Archbishop of Canterbury appointment process". gov.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury". The Church of England. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Knott, Stephen (22 January 2025). "Nominating the next Archbishop of Canterbury". Anglican Ink.
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