List of archbishops of Canterbury facts for kids

The Archbishop of Canterbury is a very important leader in the Church of England. They are known as the "Primate of All England", which means they are the most senior bishop in England. The Archbishop also serves as the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a global family of churches. Before a big change called the Reformation, the archbishops were part of the Catholic Church.

History of the Archbishops

For many centuries, from the 500s to the 1500s, the Archbishops of Canterbury worked closely with the Pope in Rome. Many of these early archbishops are now considered saints by the Catholic Church.

During the English Reformation, the Church in England separated from the Pope's authority. Instead, the English monarch (King or Queen) became the main leader of the Church of England.

How Archbishops are Chosen

In the past, there were different ways to choose the archbishop. Sometimes, church leaders from Canterbury Cathedral made the choice. Other times, the English monarch or even the Pope decided.

Today, the Church of England is closely linked to the government. The British crown officially appoints the archbishop. The prime minister of the United Kingdom suggests a name to the monarch. This name comes from a shortlist chosen by a special committee.

What the Archbishop Does Today

The Archbishop of Canterbury has four main jobs:

• Leader of the Canterbury Diocese: They are the main bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury. This is a church area that covers parts of Kent and Surrey. This diocese was started by Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is the oldest bishopric (area led by a bishop) in the English church. The Bishop of Dover helps the Archbishop with many of these local duties.
• Leader of the Province of Canterbury: They are also the main bishop for the Province of Canterbury. This is a larger group of 30 dioceses in the southern two-thirds of England. The other church areas in northern England are led by the archbishop of York.
• Chief Religious Figure in England: As the "Primate of All England," the Archbishop is the most important religious leader in the Church of England. They are senior to the Archbishop of York. Remember, the British monarch is the supreme governor of the Church of England.
• Symbolic Head of the Anglican Communion: The Archbishop is the symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. This means they are seen as "first among equals" among all the other Anglican leaders around the world.

Heraldry and Symbols

You can see many coats of arms related to the Archbishops of Canterbury. These are often displayed in the church of St Mary-at-Lambeth in London. This church is close to Lambeth Palace, which is where the archbishops live when they are in London.

Important Archbishops Through History

Over many centuries, many people have held the important role of Archbishop of Canterbury. Here are a few notable figures:

• Augustine (597–604/605): He was the very first Archbishop of Canterbury. He helped bring Christianity to England.
• Thomas Becket (1162–1170): He was a famous archbishop who had a big disagreement with King Henry II of England. He was tragically killed in Canterbury Cathedral. He is now remembered as a saint.
• Thomas Cranmer (1533–1555): He was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury. He played a key role in the English Reformation.
• Reginald Pole (1556–1558): He was the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury before the Church of England fully separated from Rome.

Recent Archbishops

Here are some of the archbishops from more recent times:

• Rowan Williams (2002–2012): He was the Archbishop of Canterbury for ten years. After his time as archbishop, he returned to teaching at Magdalene College, Cambridge.
• Justin Welby (2013–2025): He became Archbishop in February 2013. He stepped down from his role on January 6, 2025.
• Sarah Mullally (Archbishop-designate): Sarah Mullally was approved by King Charles III to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. She was previously the Bishop of London. Her installation is scheduled for March 2026.

Images for kids

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  List of the archbishops of Canterbury up to Rowan Williams (2002–2012), in Canterbury Cathedral

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  William Warham (1503–1532)

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  Thomas Cranmer (1533–1555)

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  Reginald Pole (1556–1558)

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  Matthew Parker (1559–1575)

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  Edmund Grindal (1575–1583)

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  John Whitgift (1583–1604)

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  Richard Bancroft (1604–1610)

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  George Abbot (1611–1633)

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  William Laud (1633–1645)

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  William Juxon (1660–1663)

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  Gilbert Sheldon (1663–1677)

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  William Sancroft (1678–1690)

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  John Tillotson (1691–1694)

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  Thomas Tenison (1694–1715)

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  William Wake (1715–1737)

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  John Potter (1737–1747)

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  Thomas Herring (1747–1757)

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  Matthew Hutton (1757–1758)

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  Thomas Secker (1758–1768)

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  Frederick Cornwallis (1768–1783)

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  John Moore (1783–1805)

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  Charles Manners-Sutton (1805–1828)

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  William Howley (1828–1848)

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  John Bird Sumner (1848–1862)

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  Charles Longley (1862–1868)

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  Archibald Campbell Tait (1868–1882)

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  Edward White Benson (1883–1896)

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  Frederick Temple (1896–1902)

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  Randall Davidson (1903–1928)

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  Cosmo Gordon Lang (1928–1942)

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  William Temple (1942–1944)

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  Geoffrey Fisher (1945–1961)

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  Michael Ramsey (1961–1974)

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  Donald Coggan (1974–1980)

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  George Carey (1991–2002)

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  Rowan Williams (2002–2012)

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  Justin Welby (2013–2025)

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  Sarah Mullally (Archbishop-designate)