Archbishop of Canterbury

• 1. The Mission To Kent

  ›

  Augustine of Canterbury arrived in the kingdom of Kent during the year 597. He had been sent by Pope Gregory I on a mission to the English people. King Aethelberht of Kent married a Christian Frankish princess named Bertha before he became king. This marriage allowed Augustine to preach Christianity within the kingdom. The king accepted Augustine and converted to Christianity about the year 598. Pope Gregory originally intended to establish new archiepiscopal sees in London and York instead. Political circumstances led to Canterbury being chosen as the primary seat. Since that time, the archbishops have occupied what is known as the Chair of St. Augustine. A gospel book believed to be directly associated with this mission survives today. It is catalogued as Cambridge Manuscript 286 in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College. This bound book from 6th-century Italy remains used during the swearing-in ceremony for new archbishops.

• 2. Breaking With Rome

  ›

  King Henry VIII broke communion with Rome during the English Reformation. He proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England. Thomas Cranmer was appointed to the office in 1533. He became the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer would become one of the most important figures in the development of Anglicanism. Before this break, the church had been an integral part of the Western European church. The Church of England still considers itself part of the broader Western Catholic tradition. However, the Roman Catholic Church does not accept Anglican holy orders as valid. They regard Anglicanism as schismatic. Thomas Cranmer forfeited Otford Palace to the Crown in 1537. He also forfeited Knole House to the Crown in 1538. These actions marked a permanent shift in the relationship between the English church and the papacy.

• 3. The Selection Process

  ›

  The British monarch appoints the archbishop on the advice of the prime minister. The appointment is formally made by the college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral. In practice, candidates are chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission. This body advises the prime minister before any final decision is reached. Since Henry VIII broke with Rome, the monarch has selected the archbishops. The Act of Union in 1707 changed the title from English to British for the monarch. Since the 20th century, appointments have conventionally alternated between Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals. The previous archbishop, Justin Welby, was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on the 21st of March 2013. He announced his resignation on the 12th of November 2024. His resignation became effective on the 7th of January 2025. Orders in Council dated the 18th of December 2024 confirmed this transition.

• 4. Jurisdiction And Authority

  ›

  The archbishop exercises metropolitical jurisdiction over the Province of Canterbury. This province encompasses thirty of the forty-two dioceses of the Church of England. The remaining dioceses fall within the Province of York. Four Welsh dioceses were under the province until 1920. They were transferred to the disestablished Church in Wales that year. A ceremonial provincial curia serves as a court consisting of senior bishops. The bishop of London serves as Canterbury's provincial dean. The bishop of Winchester acts as chancellor. The bishop of Lincoln is vice-chancellor. The bishop of Salisbury serves as precentor. The bishop of Worcester is chaplain. The bishop of Rochester acts as cross-bearer. The archbishop holds metropolitical authority over several extra-provincial Anglican churches. They serve as ex officio bishop of the Falkland Islands. There are four suffragan bishops who assist with duties. Rod Thomas was consecrated bishop of Maidstone on the 23rd of September 2015.

• 5. Lords Spiritual Status

  ›

  The archbishop is one of the Lords Spiritual of the House of Lords. These twenty-six bishops sit in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In the English and Welsh order of precedence, the archbishop ranks above all individuals except the sovereign and royal family members. Immediately below them is the lord chancellor and then the archbishop of York. The archbishop awards academic degrees commonly called Lambeth degrees. They are styled as The Most Reverend while in office. Retired archbishops are styled as The Right Reverend. By convention, they are appointed to the Privy Council. This allows them to use the style of The Right Honourable for life. Formal documents refer to them as The Most Reverend Forenames by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Debates in the House of Lords address them as The Most Reverend Primate. The surname is not always used in formal documents. Justin Welby usually signed his name as plus sign Justin Cantuar. The right to use a title as a legal signature is permitted only to bishops and peers of the Realm.

• 6. Ecumenical Dialogue

  ›

  Geoffrey Fisher was the first archbishop since 1397 to visit Rome. He held private talks with Pope John XXIII in 1960. Rowan Williams became the first archbishop to attend a papal funeral since the Reformation in 2005. He also attended the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI. Donald Coggan was the first to attend a papal inauguration of Pope John Paul II in 1978. Since 2002, the archbishop has co-sponsored the Alexandria Middle East Peace process with the Grand Mufti of Egypt. In July 2008, delegates agreed on international guidelines for dialogue among followers of religions. They met at a conference convened by the king of Saudi Arabia. Delegates rejected the notion of a clash of civilizations. They stated that deepening moral values would help achieve prosperity for all humans. The archbishop serves as president of Churches Together in England. This organization promotes ecumenical cooperation across different Christian denominations.

• 7. Palaces And Residences

  ›

  Lambeth Palace serves as the official residence and office in London. It is located in the London Borough of Lambeth. An apartment exists within the Old Palace next to Canterbury Cathedral. This building incorporates some 13th-century fabric from the medieval Archbishop's Palace. Former seats include Croydon Palace which served as summer residence from the 15th to 18th centuries. Addington Palace was purchased as a replacement for Croydon Palace in 1807. It was sold in 1897. The Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone was constructed in the 1390s. It was seized by the Crown during the Reformation. Otford Palace was rebuilt by Archbishop Warham before being forfeited to the Crown. Thomas Cranmer forfeited Knole House to the Crown in 1538. A palace existed at Charing from at least the 13th century. Remnants survive today as a farmhouse. The Report of the Commissioners appointed in 1835 noted net annual revenue for the see was £19,182.

• 8. Modern Succession Changes

  ›

  The 106th archbishop is Dame Sarah Mullally. She was confirmed on the 28th of January 2026. She is the first woman to hold the office. Justin Welby was the 105th holder and resigned effective the 7th of January 2025. Two other former archbishops remain living. George Carey born in 1935 served as the 103rd archbishop. Rowan Williams born in 1950 served as the 104th archbishop. From 1660 to 1902 all archbishops died in office. Randall Davidson became the first to voluntarily resign his office in 1928. All successors except William Temple have resigned before death. Until 2013 retired archbishops received peerages immediately. These titles allowed them to retain seats in the House of Lords. Justin Welby has not received a peerage upon resignation. Some life peerages became extinct after the deaths of their holders without male heirs. Baron Davidson of Lambeth became extinct in 1930. Baron Lang of Lambeth became extinct in 1945. Baron Fisher of Lambeth for life became extinct in 1972.