Editing Archbishop of Canterbury (section)

== Present roles and status ==

Currently the archbishop fills four main roles:<ref>[http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/104 Archbishop's Roles and Responsibilities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214105116/http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/104 |date=14 February 2008 }}, Archbishop of Canterbury website. Retrieved 8 February 2008.</ref>

# bishop of the [[diocese of Canterbury]], which covers the [[East Kent|eastern]] parts of the County of [[Kent]]. Founded in 597, it is the oldest [[episcopal see|see]] in the English church.
# [[metropolitan archbishop]] of the [[province of Canterbury]], which covers the southern two-thirds of England.
# the senior [[primate (bishop)|primate]] and chief religious figure of the Church of England (the [[British sovereign]] is the [[supreme governor]] of the church). Along with their colleague the [[archbishop of York]] they chair the [[General Synod of the Church of England|General Synod]] and sits on or chairs many of the church's important boards and committees; power in the church is not highly centralised, however, so the two archbishops can often lead only through persuasion. The archbishop of Canterbury plays a central part in national ceremonies such as [[coronation of the British monarch|coronations]]; due to their high public profile, their opinions are often in demand by the news media.
# spiritual leader of the [[Anglican Communion]]. The archbishop, although without legal authority outside England, is recognised by convention as {{lang|la|[[primus inter pares]]}} ("first among equals") of all Anglican [[primate (bishop)|primates]] worldwide. Since 1867 the archbishop has convened more or less decennial meetings of worldwide Anglican bishops, the [[Lambeth Conferences]].

In the last two of these functions, they have an important [[ecumenical]] and [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] role, speaking on behalf of Anglicans in England and worldwide.

The archbishop's main residence is [[Lambeth Palace]] in the [[London Borough of Lambeth]]. They also have lodgings in the Old Palace, [[Canterbury]], located beside [[Canterbury Cathedral]], where the [[Chair of St Augustine]] sits.

As holder of one of the "five great sees" (the others being [[Archbishop of York|York]], [[Bishop of London|London]], [[Bishop of Durham|Durham]] and [[Bishop of Winchester|Winchester]]), the archbishop of Canterbury is ''ex officio'' one of the [[Lords Spiritual]] of the [[House of Lords]]. They are one of the highest-ranking people in England and the highest ranking non-royal in the [[United Kingdom order of precedence|United Kingdom's order of precedence]].

Since [[Henry VIII]] broke with [[Catholic Church|Rome]], the archbishops of Canterbury have been selected by the English (British since the [[Acts of Union 1707|Act of Union]] in 1707) monarch. Since the 20th century, the appointment of archbishops of Canterbury conventionally alternates between [[Anglo-Catholics]] and [[Evangelical Anglicanism|Evangelicals]].<ref>[http://www.archbishopofyork.org/154?q=archbishops The Archbishop of Canterbury] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722105024/http://www.archbishopofyork.org/154?q=archbishops |date=22 July 2011 }}, website of the Archbishop of York. Retrieved 31 March 2009.</ref>

The most recent archbishop, [[Justin Welby]] was the 105th holder of the office; he was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on 4 February 2013. As archbishop he signed himself as ''+ Justin Cantuar''. On 12 November 2024, he announced his decision to resign;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sinmaz |first=Emine |date=2024-11-12 |title=Justin Welby says he will step down as archbishop of Canterbury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/12/justin-welby-step-down-archbishop-canterbury |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> he did so effective 7 January 2025.<ref name="res-order" />

Two  other former archbishops were living {{As of|2025|lc=y}}: [[George Carey]] (born 1935), the 103rd archbishop; and [[Rowan Williams]] (born 1950), the 104th archbishop.

=== Additional roles ===

In addition to their office, the archbishop holds a number of other positions; for example, they are joint president of the [[Council of Christians and Jews]] in the United Kingdom. Some positions they formally hold ''[[ex officio]]'' and others virtually so (the incumbent of the day, although appointed personally, is appointed because of their office). Amongst these are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldreg/reg06.htm|title=Register of Lords' interests|access-date=15 August 2007|publisher=[[House of Lords]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807023334/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldreg/reg06.htm|archive-date=7 August 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Canterbury Christ Church University]]<ref name="arch">{{cite web|url=http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/News/newsRelease.asp?newspk=597 |title=Archbishop installed as first Chancellor |publisher=[[Canterbury Christ Church University]] |date=12 December 2005 |access-date=7 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021041/http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/News/newsRelease.asp?newspk=597 |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref>
* [[Visitor]] for the following academic institutions:
** [[All Souls College, Oxford]]
** [[Selwyn College, Cambridge]]
** [[Merton College, Oxford]]
** [[Keble College, Oxford]]
** [[Ridley Hall, Cambridge]]
** The [[University of Kent]] (main campus located in [[Canterbury]])
** [[King's College London]]
** [[University of King's College]]
** [[Sutton Valence School]]
** [[Benenden School]]
** [[Cranbrook School, Kent|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]] (also Patron)
* Governor of [[Charterhouse School]]
* Governor of [[Wellington College, Berkshire|Wellington College]]
* Visitor, [[Dulwich Estate|The Dulwich Charities]]
* Visitor, [[Whitgift Foundation]]
* Visitor, Hospital of the Blessed [[Trinity]], Guildford<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance --> (Abbot's Fund)
* Trustee, [[Bromley & Sheppard's Colleges|Bromley College]]
* Trustee, [[Allchurches Trust]]
* President, Corporation of [[Church House, Westminster]]
* Director, [[Diocese of Canterbury|Canterbury Diocesan]] Board of Finance
* Patron, [[St Edmund's School Canterbury]]
* Patron, [[University of King's College|The University of King's College]], [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
* Patron, The [[Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks]]
* Patron, [[Prisoners Abroad]]
* Patron, The [[Kent Savers Credit Union]]
* Patron, Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2021 |title=Justin Welby becomes patron of mental health charity |url=https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/justin-welby-becomes-patron-of-mental-health-charity |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2021 |website=Premier. Christian News |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922180903/https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/justin-welby-becomes-patron-of-mental-health-charity }}</ref>

=== Ecumenical and interfaith ===

The archbishop is also a president of [[Churches Together in England]] (an [[ecumenical]] organisation).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Presidents of Churches Together in England|url=http://www.churches-together.net/Articles/61446/Churches_Together_in/About_Us/The_Presidents_of.aspx|publisher=Churches Together in England|access-date=23 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226205837/http://www.churches-together.net/Articles/61446/Churches_Together_in/About_Us/The_Presidents_of.aspx|archive-date=26 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Geoffrey Fisher]], 99th archbishop of Canterbury, was the first since 1397 to visit Rome, where he held private talks with [[Pope John XXIII]] in 1960. In 2005, Rowan Williams became the first archbishop of Canterbury to attend a papal funeral since the Reformation. He also attended the inauguration of [[Pope Benedict XVI]]. The 101st archbishop, [[Donald Coggan]], was the first to attend a papal inauguration, that of [[Pope John Paul II]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hickman|first=Baden|title=Lord Coggan of Canterbury|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/may/19/guardianobituaries.religion|access-date=23 February 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=19 May 2000}}</ref>

Since 2002, the archbishop has co-sponsored the [[Alexandria Middle East Peace process]] with the [[Grand Mufti of Egypt]]. In July 2008, the archbishop attended a conference of Christians, Jews and Muslims convened by the [[king of Saudi Arabia]] at which the notion of the "clash of civilizations" was rejected. Delegates agreed "on international guidelines for dialogue among the followers of religions and cultures."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2008/special-reports/080719-madrid-conference.html |title=Madrid Interfaith Dialogue Conference: Beginning of a Process|publisher=Saudi-US Relations Information Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515085122/http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2008/special-reports/080719-madrid-conference.html|archive-date=15 May 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> Delegates said that "the deepening of moral values and ethical principles, which are common denominators among such followers, would help strengthen stability and achieve prosperity for all humans."<ref>{{cite book|last=Niles|first=D. Preman|title=Resisting the threats to life: covenanting for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation|date=1989|publisher=WCC Publications|location=Geneva|isbn=9782825409640}}</ref>