Who is the Archbishop of Canterbury?

The current and 104th Archbishop of Canterbury is the Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan D. Williams., who was appointed by the crown in 2001 after serving one year as Archbishop of Wales. He was enthroned in Canterbury Cathedral on February 27, 2002. (The correct title for the Archbishop of Canterbury is "The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon.")

The Archbishop of Canterbury is "Primate of All England" and metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury in southern England. The Archbishop of Canterbury likewise holds a position of honor in the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury convenes the primates when they gather and sits with them as "first among equals" (Latin: primus inter pares). In addition to a palace at Canterbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury also has a residence at Lambeth Palace in London.

The Archbishop of Canterbury holds a position of honor and preeminence as spiritual leader in the Anglican Communion but holds no official authority over the churches of the Communion or its individual members. This may be contrasted with the Roman Catholic understanding of papal authority and the authority of the church. While no one is recognised as the head of all the churches that make up the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury is regarded as its titular leader, and exercises considerable spiritual authority beyond the province of Canterbury. The Archbishop of Canterbury presides over the Lambeth Conference, the decennial meeting of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, and is president of the Anglican Consultative Council.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, among the 26 senior English bishops, is a member of the British House of Lords. Retired Archbishops of Canterbury retain the title of Lord.

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St. Augustine who was enthroned in 597 AD.

Web site: www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

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