Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior clergyman of the established Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The present incumbent is Rowan Williams.

Related Topics:
Archbishop - Canterbury - Church of England - Anglican Communion - Rowan Williams

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Today the archbishop fills four main roles:

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• he is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, which covers the east of the County of Kent and extreme north-east Surrey. Founded in 597, it is the oldest bishopric in the English church.
• he is the metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury, which covers the southern two-thirds of England.
• as Primate of All England, he is the chief religious figure in the Church of England (the British sovereign is the "Supreme governor" of the church). Power in the church is not highly centralised, so the archbishop (along with his "junior" colleague the Archbishop of York) must usually lead through persuasion. He plays an important part in national ceremonies such as coronations; thanks to his high public profile his opinions are often in demand by the news media.
• as symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop is recognized as primus inter pares ("first among equals") of all Anglican primates. Since 1867 he has convened more or less decennial meetings of worldwide Anglican bishops, the Lambeth Conferences.

The Archbishop's main residence is Lambeth Palace in the London Borough of Lambeth. He also has lodgings in the Old Palace, Canterbury, located beside Canterbury Cathedral, where his cathedra is located.

Related Topics:
Lambeth Palace - London Borough of Lambeth - Canterbury - Canterbury Cathedral - Cathedra

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As holder of one of the "five great sees" (along with the York, London, Durham and Winchester), the Archbishop of Canterbury is ex officio one of the Lords Spiritual of House of Lords.

Related Topics:
York - London - Durham - Winchester - Lords Spiritual - House of Lords

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Since Henry VIII broke with Rome the Archbishops of Canterbury have been selected by the English (latterly British) monarch. Today the choice is made in the name of the Sovereign by the prime minister, from a shortlist of two selected by an ad-hoc committee called the Crown Nominations Commission.

Related Topics:
Henry VIII - Rome - Crown Nominations Commission

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As the current archbishop, the Right Honourable and Most Reverend Dr Rowan Douglas Williams, the 104th Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on 27 February 2003; he signs himself Rowan Cantuar. He was previously Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth.

Related Topics:
Dr '''Rowan''' Douglas '''Williams''' - 27 February - 2003 - Archbishop of Wales - Bishop of Monmouth

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Archbishop of Canterbury: History ►