Short answers, pulled from the story.
Dame Sarah Mullally is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury confirmed on the 28th of January 2026. She is the first woman to hold the office in its 1,400-year history. Her appointment follows the resignation of Justin Welby effective the 7th of January 2025.
Augustine of Canterbury arrived in Kent in 597 having been dispatched by Pope Gregory the Great. He established the episcopal seat in Canterbury rather than London due to specific political circumstances. The office has been occupied by the Chair of St Augustine ever since that arrival.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the prime minister. Candidates are chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission which advises the prime minister. The archbishop is also formally elected by the college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral.
Lambeth Palace serves as the official residence and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. The archbishop also maintains lodgings in the Old Palace in Canterbury beside Canterbury Cathedral. Former seats included Croydon Palace and Addington Palace which were sold or forfeited during the Reformation.
Geoffrey Fisher the 99th archbishop was the first since 1397 to visit Rome in 1960. He held private talks with Pope John XXIII signaling a thaw in relations between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. This visit marked a significant step in ecumenical dialogue.