Archbishop of Canterbury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sarah Mullally, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, shown here in 2019 when she was Bishop of London
Coat of arms
Location
Ecclesiastical province	Canterbury
Information
Denomination	Anglican Former: Catholic (before 1532)
Established	597 (597)
Cathedral	Canterbury Cathedral

The Archbishop of Canterbury is a very important leader in the Church of England. Think of them as the main bishop and a spiritual guide for Anglicans all over the world. They are also the special bishop for the diocese of Canterbury in England.

The person holding this role is also a "Lord Spiritual." This means they are one of 26 bishops from the Church of England who have a seat in the House of Lords. This is part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, where important decisions for the country are made.

The 106th Archbishop is Dame Sarah Mullally. She became the Archbishop on January 28, 2026. She is the first woman to ever hold this important position!

The first Archbishop was Augustine of Canterbury, who arrived in England in the year 597. For many centuries, the Archbishops were part of the Catholic Church. But in the 1500s, King Henry VIII made the Church of England separate. Thomas Cranmer became the first Archbishop after this change, helping to shape what the Anglican Church is today.

Today, the British monarch officially appoints the Archbishop. This happens after the prime minister of the United Kingdom and a special Church of England group, called the Crown Nominations Commission, suggest a candidate.

What the Archbishop Does Today

The Archbishop of Canterbury has several important jobs:

• Bishop of Canterbury: They are the local bishop for the diocese of Canterbury. This area covers the eastern part of Kent County in England. This is the oldest bishop's area in the English church, started in 597.
• Leader of the Province of Canterbury: They oversee the province of Canterbury. This province includes about two-thirds of southern England.
• Chief Religious Figure in the Church of England: The Archbishop is the main spiritual leader of the Church of England. They work with the Archbishop of York to lead the church's main assembly, called the General Synod. They also play a key role in big national events, like the coronation of a new King or Queen. People often ask for their opinions on important matters.
• Spiritual Head of the Anglican Communion: The Archbishop is seen as the spiritual leader for all Anglican churches worldwide. They are called "first among equals" (primus inter pares). This means they are respected as a leader, but they don't have direct power over churches outside England. Since 1867, they have hosted big meetings called Lambeth Conferences for Anglican bishops from around the globe.

In these roles, the Archbishop helps build bridges between different Christian groups and other faiths. They speak for Anglicans in England and worldwide.

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

The Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the highest-ranking people in England. They are even above most non-royal people in the country's official order of importance.

The previous Archbishop, Justin Welby, was the 105th person to hold this office. He became Archbishop on March 21, 2013, and resigned on January 7, 2025. Two other former Archbishops, George Carey and Rowan Williams, are still alive today.

Other Important Jobs

Besides their main duties, the Archbishop also has many other roles. For example, they help lead the Council of Christians and Jews in the UK. This group works to build understanding between different faiths.

The Archbishop is also involved with many schools and universities. They act as a special "Visitor" or "Chancellor" for several important colleges, like King's College London and the University of Kent. This means they help oversee these institutions.

They also serve as a Governor or Patron for various charities and schools. These roles show how the Archbishop supports education and good causes across the country.

Working with Other Faiths

The Archbishop also works to bring different Christian churches closer together. They are a president of Churches Together in England, which is a group that helps various churches cooperate.

Archbishops have also met with leaders of the Catholic Church in Rome. For example, Geoffrey Fisher was the first Archbishop since 1397 to visit the Pope in 1960. More recently, Archbishops have attended important events like papal funerals and inaugurations.

The Archbishop also takes part in discussions with leaders of other religions, like Islam and Judaism. They have worked on peace efforts and attended conferences to promote understanding and shared values among different cultures and faiths. This helps build a more peaceful world.

How the Role Began

Arms of the see of Canterbury. These arms still show the pallium, a symbol of authority for archbishops.

Long ago, during the time of the Roman Empire, there might have been important church leaders in places like London and York. But in the 5th and 6th centuries, new groups of people called the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain. They brought their own beliefs.

The Kingdom of Kent was a powerful area at this time. Its 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 arrived in Kent in 597 AD. He was sent by Pope Gregory I to share Christianity with the English people. King Æthelbert became a Christian around 598.

Canterbury was chosen as the main church center instead of London because of local politics. Since then, the Archbishops of Canterbury have been linked to the "Chair of St. Augustine."

An ancient gospel book, believed to be from St Augustine's time, is still used today. It is called the St Augustine Gospels. New Archbishops use this book during their swearing-in ceremony.

Before the 1500s, the Church in England was part of the wider Western European Church. After King Henry VIII separated the Church of England, it became a national church. It still sees itself as part of the broader Christian tradition.

Canterbury's Church Areas

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 regions (called dioceses) in the Church of England. The other regions are in the Province of York.

The Archbishop also has a special group of senior bishops who help them. For example, the Bishop of London is the most senior cleric after the two Archbishops.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is considered "first among equals" among all Anglican bishops worldwide. This means they are highly respected. However, they do not have direct power over churches outside England. They do have some authority over a few special Anglican churches outside the main provinces. For example, they are the bishop for the Falkland Islands.

As of 2024, the Archbishop has four assisting bishops, called suffragan bishops:

• The Bishop of Dover helps the Archbishop with duties in the Diocese of Canterbury. This is because the Archbishop is often busy with national and international tasks.
• Two other bishops, the Bishop of Ebbsfleet and the Bishop of Richborough, help oversee parishes across the Province of Canterbury.
• The Bishop of Maidstone also provides special oversight for certain members of the province.

Titles and Special Rights

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are both called "The Most Reverend." When they retire, they are called "The Right Reverend." The Archbishop is also part of the Privy Council. This means they can use the title "The Right Honourable" for life.

In official papers, the Archbishop of Canterbury is known as "The Most Reverend Forenames, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan." In the House of Lords, they are called "The Most Reverend Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury."

Archbishops can also sign their name using "Cantuar," which is Latin for Canterbury. This special right to use a title as a legal signature is only for bishops and certain nobles. Justin Welby, for example, signed as "+Justin Cantuar:."

In England and Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury ranks very high in the official order of importance. They are above everyone except the King or Queen and members of the royal family.

The Archbishop of Canterbury can also award special academic degrees, known as "Lambeth degrees."

Where Archbishops Live

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

The Archbishop of Canterbury's main home and office in London is Lambeth Palace. They also have an apartment in the Old Palace, right next to Canterbury Cathedral. This old palace has parts from the 13th century.

In the past, Archbishops had other homes, including:

• Croydon Palace: A summer home from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
• Addington Palace: Bought in 1807, sold in 1897.
• Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone: Built in the 1390s, taken by the Crown during the Reformation.
• Otford Palace: Rebuilt around 1515, given to the Crown in 1537.
• Archbishop's Palace, Charing: Existed since at least the 13th century, taken by the Crown.
• Knole House: Built in the 15th century, given to the Crown in 1538.

Recent Archbishops

Since 1900, these people have served as Archbishop of Canterbury:

• 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
• 2013–2025: Justin Welby
• 2026–present: Sarah Mullally

Archbishops Who Became Peers

Before 1928, Archbishops of Canterbury usually stayed in office until they died. Randall Davidson was the first to resign voluntarily. Since then, most Archbishops have resigned before their death.

Until recently, Archbishops who retired were given special titles called "peerages." This allowed them to keep their seats in the House of Lords. For example, Rowan Williams became Baron Williams of Oystermouth when he retired in 2013. However, Justin Welby, who resigned in January 2025, has not yet received a peerage.

See also

In Spanish: Arzobispo de Canterbury para niños

• Accord of Winchester
• Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
• Religion in the United Kingdom