Archbishop of Canterbury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Coat of arms
Location
Ecclesiastical province	Canterbury
Information
Denomination	Anglican
Established	597 (597)
Cathedral	Canterbury Cathedral

The Archbishop of Canterbury is a very important leader in the Church of England. They are the main bishop and a key figure in the worldwide Anglican Communion. This person is also the bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury.

The current Archbishop is Justin Welby. He started his role at Canterbury Cathedral on March 21, 2013. Justin Welby is the 105th Archbishop. This long line of leaders goes all the way back to Augustine of Canterbury. Augustine was sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great in 597 AD. Welby announced he would be stepping down on November 12, 2024.

For many centuries, from Augustine's time until the 1500s, the Archbishops of Canterbury were part of the Roman Catholic Church. However, during the English Reformation, King Henry VIII separated the Church of England from Rome. He became the head of the church. Thomas Cranmer, who became Archbishop in 1533, was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury. He played a huge part in shaping Anglicanism.

The British monarch chooses the Archbishop. They do this based on advice from the Prime Minister. In reality, a special Church of England group called the Crown Nominations Commission picks the candidates.

What does the Archbishop of Canterbury do?

Today, the Archbishop of Canterbury has four main jobs:

• Bishop of Canterbury: They are the bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury. This area covers the eastern parts of Kent. It is the oldest church area in England, started in 597 AD.
• Metropolitan Archbishop: They are the main archbishop for the Province of Canterbury. This province covers the southern two-thirds of England.
• Chief Religious Figure: They are the senior leader of the Church of England. (The British King or Queen is the church's supreme governor). The Archbishop works with the Archbishop of York. Together, they lead the General Synod of the Church of England, which is like the church's parliament. They also sit on or lead many important church groups. The Archbishop of Canterbury is very involved in big national events, like coronations. Because they are so well-known, news reporters often ask for their opinions.
• Spiritual Leader of the Anglican Communion: The Archbishop is seen as the "first among equals" among all Anglican leaders worldwide. This means they are respected as the main spiritual leader, even though they don't have legal power outside England. Since 1867, the Archbishop has held big meetings called Lambeth Conferences. These meetings happen about every ten years and bring together Anglican bishops from all over the world.

In their roles as chief religious figure and spiritual leader, the Archbishop also works to build bridges between different Christian groups and other religions. This is called ecumenical and interfaith work.

The Archbishop's main home is Lambeth Palace in London. They also have a place to stay at the Old Palace in Canterbury. This is right next to Canterbury Cathedral, where the special Chair of St Augustine is located.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the "five great sees" (along with York, London, Durham, and Winchester). This means they automatically get a seat in the House of Lords. They are one of the highest-ranking people in England and the highest-ranking non-royal in the United Kingdom.

Since King Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, the English (and later British) monarch has chosen the Archbishops of Canterbury. Since the 1900s, the job usually switches between leaders who have different views within the Anglican church.

The most recent Archbishop, Justin Welby, is the 105th person to hold the job. He officially started his role at Canterbury Cathedral on February 4, 2013. When he signs his name as Archbishop, he uses + Justin Cantuar. He announced his plan to resign on November 12, 2024.

There are two other living former Archbishops. They are George Carey (born 1935), who was the 103rd Archbishop, and Rowan Williams (born 1950), who was the 104th Archbishop.

Other important roles

The Archbishop also holds many other positions. For example, they are a joint president of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom. Some of these roles are part of their job as Archbishop, while others are personal appointments.

Some of these roles include:

• Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University
• Visitor for many schools and universities, like:
  • All Souls College, Oxford
  • Selwyn College, Cambridge
  • Merton College, Oxford
  • Keble College, Oxford
  • Ridley Hall, Cambridge
  • The University of Kent (its main campus is in Canterbury)
  • King's College London
  • University of King's College
  • Sutton Valence School
  • Benenden School
  • Cranbrook School
  • Haileybury and Imperial Service College
  • Harrow School
  • King's College School, Wimbledon
  • The King's School, Canterbury
  • St John's School, Leatherhead
  • Marlborough College
  • Dauntsey's School
  • Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
• Governor of Charterhouse School
• Governor of Wellington College
• Visitor for several charities, like The Dulwich Charities and Whitgift Foundation
• Trustee for groups like Bromley College and Allchurches Trust
• President of the Corporation of Church House, Westminster
• Director of the Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance
• Patron of schools like St Edmund's School Canterbury
• Patron of various other organizations, including Prisoners Abroad and The Kent Savers Credit Union

Working with other faiths

The Archbishop is also a president of Churches Together in England. This group helps different Christian churches work together. Geoffrey Fisher, the 99th Archbishop, was the first since 1397 to visit Rome. He had private talks with Pope John XXIII in 1960.

In 2005, Rowan Williams became the first Archbishop of Canterbury to attend a Pope's funeral since the Reformation. He also went to the start of Pope Benedict XVI's time as Pope. The 101st Archbishop, Donald Coggan, was the first to attend a Pope's inauguration, which was for Pope John Paul II in 1978.

Since 2002, the Archbishop has helped lead the Alexandria Middle East Peace process. This was done with the Grand Mufti of Egypt. In 2008, the Archbishop attended a meeting of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. This meeting was called by the King of Saudi Arabia. They all agreed that different cultures and religions should talk to each other, not clash. They said that sharing moral values helps make the world more stable and prosperous for everyone.

How the role began

Arms of the see of Canterbury. This symbol still shows the pallium, a sign of the Pope's and archbishops' authority.

Some people think that the Roman area of Britannia had four archbishops. These were in Londinium (London), Eboracum (York), Lindum Colonia (Lincoln), and Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester). However, in the 400s and 500s, pagan Germanic peoples (who became known as the Anglo-Saxons) took over Britannia.

Of the kingdoms they created, Kent was very connected to Europe. This was because it was easy to travel to continental Europe from there. In the late 500s, King Æthelberht of Kent married a Christian princess named Bertha. He allowed Christians to preach in his kingdom.

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was Saint Augustine of Canterbury. He is not the same person as Saint Augustine of Hippo. Augustine arrived in Kent in 597 AD. He was sent by Pope Gregory I to bring Christianity to the English people. King King Æthelbert accepted him after he became a Christian around 598 AD.

Pope Gregory had planned for the new archbishop's offices in England to be in London and York. But because of political reasons, Canterbury was chosen instead of London. Since then, the Archbishops of Canterbury have been said to sit in the Chair of St. Augustine.

A very old gospel book is thought to be directly linked to St. Augustine's mission. It is kept at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, England. This book, called the St Augustine Gospels, was made in Italy in the 500s. It is still used today when new Archbishops of Canterbury are sworn into their role.

Before the Church of England separated from the Pope in the 1500s, it was a part of the wider Western European church. After the split, the Church of England still sees itself as part of the broader Christian tradition. It is also considered the "mother church" of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Canterbury's Province and Diocese

View of Canterbury Cathedral from the north west around 1890–1900.

The Archbishop of Canterbury oversees the Province of Canterbury. This area includes 30 of the 42 church areas (called dioceses) in the Church of England. The other dioceses are in the Province of York. The four Welsh dioceses were also part of Canterbury's province until 1920. Then they became part of the separate Church in Wales.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has a special group of senior bishops who help them. The Bishop of London is the most senior cleric after the two archbishops. The Bishop of Winchester acts as the chancellor. Other bishops also have special roles in this group.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is also seen as the most important bishop among all the bishops in the Anglican Communion. They are known as primus inter pares, which means "first among equals." However, they do not have direct power over church areas outside England. They do have authority over a few special Anglican churches outside the main provinces. For example, they are automatically the bishop of the Falkland Islands.

Currently, the Archbishop has four assisting bishops:

• The Bishop of Dover is also called "bishop in Canterbury." This bishop acts almost like the main bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury. This is because the Archbishop is often away on national and international duties.
• Two other assisting bishops, the Bishop of Ebbsfleet and the Bishop of Richborough, are "flying bishops." They travel around the Province of Canterbury. They provide support to churches that do not agree with women being ordained as priests in the Church of England.
• The Bishop of Maidstone also provides support for churches in the Province of Canterbury. This is for members who hold a more traditional view about male leadership in the church. Rod Thomas became the Bishop of Maidstone on September 23, 2015.

Titles and special rights

Both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York are called "The Most Reverend." Archbishops who have retired are called "The Right Reverend." By tradition, the Archbishop is also made a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. This means they can use the title "The Right Honourable" for life.

In official papers, the Archbishop of Canterbury is called "The Most Reverend Forenames, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan." In discussions in the House of Lords, they are called "The Most Reverend Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury." They can also be formally called "Your Grace," or more simply, "Archbishop" or "Father."

The Archbishop of Canterbury's last name is not always used in official documents. Often, only their first name and the name of their see (Canterbury) are mentioned. The Archbishop can legally sign their name as "Cantuar" (which is Latin for Canterbury). Only bishops, members of the nobility, and honorary nobles can use a title as their legal signature. The most recent Archbishop of Canterbury usually signed as "+Justin Cantuar:".

In the order of importance in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury ranks very high. They are above everyone else except the King or Queen and members of the royal family. The lord chancellor is next, followed by the Archbishop of York.

The Archbishop of Canterbury can also give out special university degrees. These are commonly known as "Lambeth degrees."

Homes of the Archbishops

The Archbishop of Canterbury's official London residence and office is Lambeth Palace, seen looking east across the River Thames.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's official home and office in London is Lambeth Palace. They also have an apartment inside the Old Palace. This is next to Canterbury Cathedral. Parts of this building date back to the 1200s.

Some other places where Archbishops used to live include:

• Croydon Palace: This was the summer home for Archbishops from the 1400s to the 1700s.
• Addington Palace: This was bought in 1807 to replace Croydon Palace. It was sold in 1897.
• Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone: Built in the 1390s, this palace was taken by the King during the Reformation.
• Otford Palace: This was a medieval palace rebuilt around 1515. It was given to the King by Thomas Cranmer in 1537.
• Archbishop's Palace, Charing: A palace existed here from at least the 1200s. It was taken by the King after the Dissolution. Parts of it are now a farmhouse.
• Knole House: Built by Archbishop Bourchier in the late 1400s. It was given to the King by Archbishop Cranmer in 1538.

Recent Archbishops

Here are the Archbishops of Canterbury since 1900:

• 1896–1902: Frederick Temple
• 1903–1928: Randall Davidson
• 1928–1942: Cosmo Gordon Lang
• 1942–1944: William Temple
• 1945–1961: Geoffrey Fisher
• 1961–1974: Michael Ramsey
• 1974–1980: Donald Coggan
• 1980–1991: Robert Runcie
• 1991–2002: George Carey
• 2002–2012: Rowan Williams
• 2013–Present: Justin Welby

Archbishops who became Peers

From 1660 to 1902, all Archbishops of Canterbury stayed in their job until they died. In 1928, Randall Davidson was the first to choose to resign. All Archbishops after him, except William Temple (who died in office in 1944), have also resigned before they passed away.

All the Archbishops who retired have been given special titles called peerages. At first, these were hereditary titles (meaning they could be passed down). Later, after 1958, they became "life peerages." These titles allowed retired Archbishops to keep their seats in the House of Lords.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait of The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.

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  Arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

See also

In Spanish: Arzobispo de Canterbury para niños