The Archbishopric of Canterbury is the oldest ecclesiastical authority in all of Britain. The See of Canterbury was established by St. Augustine, who was sent by Pope Gregory in 597 to Christianize what he believed to have been a pagan country. Indeed, the Anglo-Saxons - who were newcomers to the British Island - were pagans. However, before the Anglo-Saxons arrived, the Celts had lived in Britain for centuries. They had been subjugated to Roman law in the first century of the Christian Era and through the efforts of the Roman legions and their slaves had received the Christian religion. Many of the Celts accepted the faith of Christ, and for the last century of Roman occupation, the Celtic Church flourished as one of many religions of the Romano-Celtic society of Britannia (the Latin name for the Roman province of Britian).
Due to the onslaught of the Barbarian invasions of the Empire, the legions in Britian were forced to evacuate the province, leaving the Celts to fend for themselves against the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. These Germanic tribes began their migratation to the island in the 5th century. Though the Celts and the newcomers were racially kin, the Celts had adopted much of Roman culture during the occupation by Rome. They had little in common with the newcomers. At first, the Romano-Celts peacefully cohabitated with the pagan Angles and Saxons. However, the Celtic Church soon felt it necessary to move west, away from the barbarians' pagan and militaristic culture. They retreated to the mountains of Wales and Cornwall, where they lived isolated with their faith and culture for over a century and a half. Then, shortly before Augustine arrived, the Celts began to emerge from their mountain retreat to interact with the Anglo-Saxons. They had begun to re-establish their old churches with the permission of the new pagan kings who were spread out across England. Imagine Augustine's surprise when he arrived to find this Celtic Church - which had been thought to be extinct by the Roman Church - with its ancient traditions and practices - growing, flourishing, and evangelizing the Anglo-Saxons.
The last real contact that the Roman Church had with the Celtic Church before Augustine's arrival was in the early years of the 5th century, when the Celts asked for help from Rome to confront the Palagian heresy. With the help of St. Germanus and St. Lupus, this heresy was put down, but was not eliminated. In 444, when the Roman Church adjusted the Church Calendar slightly, the Celtic Church could not be informed of the decision because they had already begun their seclusion in the Welsh mountains and Cornish hills. When the Celts went into seclusion, the Roman Church lost contact with them altogether. Rome could do nothing else but assume that the Celtic Church had fallen prey to the Palagian heresy and had become extinct.
Augustine was sent to Britain with instructions from the pope to establish two provinces for Britain, one centered in London and the other in York. However, at the court of King Æthelbert of Kent, Augustine found an ally in the queen, Bertha, who was a Christian from Gaul. Bertha persuaded her pagan husband to give sanctuary to Augustine, who was allowed to establish a church on the ruins of an older church built by the Romans and their slaves in the Roman town of Durovernum Cantiacorum. Durovernum eventually evolved into Canterbury, which was Æthelbert's capital. The church built by Augustine was enlarged by Æthelbert's son as a monastery. This church became Christ Church Cathedral. Thus, Augustine established the southern province not at London, but at Canterbury. As per Gregory's instructions, he also established the Archbishopric of York.
In many letters sent back and forth between Canterbury and Rome, Augustine informed Pope Gregory of the native Church that he discovered. Wisely, Gregory instructed Augustine to incorporate the Celtic Church into his mission, and to adapt to Celtic practice, including the liturgy. This fusion of Roman and Celtic practice became the basis of Anglicanism. Though the Church in Britain increasingly became subjugated to the authority of the pope over the next millennium, its unique British culture was never diminished. The subjugation of the English Church began at the Synod of Whitby in 664 and became complete during the reign of King John. During the Reformation, reform in England was not centered around theology as it was on the Continent - though theology did play a major part in the Elizabethan years. Rather, it revolved around ecclesiastical government. Because of this, the issues of the English Reformation must be dealt with differently by historians than are those of the Continental Reformation. During the English Reformation, the Church in England reclaimed its ancient, independent, Celtic Catholicism to become the Church of England.
There have been 103 Archbishops of Canterbury since 597. In the 1,405th year since the establishment of the See of Canterbury, Archbishop George Carey announced his intentions to retire in the fall of 2002. The Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed by the Crown (the English Crown, in the end, won that argument), and Queen Elizabeth II appointed the Most Revd. Dr. Rowan Williams to be the 104th Archbishop. Archbishop Williams, who was the Archbishop of Wales and the Bishop of Monmouth at his appointment, is the first non-English Archbishop of Canterbury to be appointed since the Reformation.
| Bishop of Canterbury | The Archbishop is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. To assist him in these duties, he relies on the assistance of the bishop of Maidstone and the bishop of Dover. The Archbishop participates in the life of the Diocese of Canterbury by administering confirmation, visiting schools, ordaining new deacons and priests, and preaching at Canterbury Cathedral. Archbishop Carey has undertaken a series of teaching tours throughout his diocese three times a year. |
| Primate of All England | The Archbishop is the chief ecclesiastical authority of the Church of England. The Church of England is divided into two provinces: Canterbury and York. With the Archbishop of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury presides over General Synod (the governing body of the Church of England), co-chairs the House of Bishops, and co-chairs the Crown Appointments Commission, which recommends to the Crown appointments of bishops and other senior officers of the Church. He consecrates all new bishops of the Province of Canterbury. |
| Chaplain to the Nation | The Church of England is the established Church in England, and as the Primate of this Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury has a special role as spiritual guide of the British nation. As such, he and 25 other senior bishops of the Church sit in the House of Lords as the Lords Spiritual. The Archbishop crowns the new monarch. When moral or spiritual guidance is needed for the nation, the Crown and Parliament turn to the Archbishop, giving the Church on official role in the development of the nation's political and economic policy. |
| Leader of the Anglican Communion | The Anglican Church grew with the British Empire, giving birth to national "daughter" Churches throughout the world. As primus inter pares - first among equals - among all the Primates of the national Churches, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the worldwide, 70-million-member Anglican Communion, which is the global confederation of the Church of England and its daughter Churches. The Archbishop has no authority over the national Churches (called Provinces) of the Anglican communion, as each are autonomous. However, he exercises great influence and respect throughout the Communion. When he speaks, Anglicans throughout the world listen. |
| Ecumenical Role | As leader of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury is given the unified voice of all Anglicans throughout the world in global ecumenical dialogues among the various Christian denominations. Within the United Kingdom, he speaks during national ecumenical dialogue for British Anglicans as the Primate of All England. As the ecumenical voice of Anglicans, the Archbishop has worked closely with the Pope and the Patriarch of Istanbul to bring closer relationships between the three branches of the Catholic faith. |
| Inter-faith Role | The British nation has undergone a dramatic demographic change in the last century, and has seen a rise in the number of adherents of other non-Christian faiths. As Primate of All England, the Archbishop has played an important role in bringing closer, friendlier relations between Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Sikhs. He has done the same thing on a global level as the leader of the Anglican Communion. |
| Cantuar | "Cantuar" is what the Archbishop calls himself in official written correspondence and documents. In such documents, the Archbishop will sign himself as "+George Cantuar". It is derived from the Latin word for Canterbury, and means "of Canterbury". The cross before his signature is merely an ancient tradition identifying the signer as a bishop. (Priests sign themselves with a cross behind their names, ie: "John Doe+".) The Archbishop of Canterbury is often referred to in the third person as Cantuar, such as in the press, ie: "Cantuar dedicated a new church..." (Incidentally, when speaking directly to the Archbishop, according to tradition he is addressed as "Your Grace".) |
| Primus Inter Pares | Primus Inter Pares is a Latin phrase meaning "First among equals." It signifies the characteristic of the Archbishop's role as leader of the Anglican Communion. As the leader of the Communion, he is not above any other Primate in rank or authority, and exercises no authority over the internal governance of the autonomous Provinces of the Communion. This prevents the Archbishop from becoming an "Anglican Pope." |
| Primate | A primate is a bishop who has ecclesiastical authority over several dioceses that share a regional or national identity. In the Western Church, they usually have the title of Archbishop. In the Anglican Communion, the primates are the senior bishops of the 38 autonomous national or regional Churches planted by missionaries of the Church of England. All Anglican bishops are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury and are recognized by him - through the Anglican Communion Office in London - as such. |
| Province | A Province in the Anglican Communion is the territory of one of the 38 national or regional Churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. The 38 provinces are located in 164 nations on 6 continents. All provinces identify as Anglican because they are in communion with the See of Canterbury through their primates. |
| Lambeth Conference | Lambeth Conference is held once a decade and is attended by all of the bishops of the Anglican Communion. During the Conference, issues of importance to the Communion are discussed, and resolutions pertaining to these issues are passed. However, these resolutions are not binding upon the provinces. They are only intended to provide a statement of consensus of the Communion as a whole. The first Lambeth Conference was held in 1867 at the invitation of Archbishop Longley. It has been postponed only twice since then. In 1918 it was postponed because of World War I, and in 1940 it was postponed due to World War II. Originally it was held at Lambeth Palace, but now is held at the University of Kent in Canterbury. |
| Lambeth Palace | Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Because the Archbishop has traditionally exercised a national role - as chief counsellor to the Crown and Parlaiment - it was important that he reside close to the seat of government. Lambeth Palace was given to the Archbishop by the Crown in about 1200. Lambeth was given to the Archbishop because it was on the south bank of the River Thames, which at the time formed the northern boundary of the Diocese of Canterbury. |
| Bishops' Bench | The Bishop's Bench is the place in the House of Lords at which sit the 26 senior bishops of the Church of England. Since the Church of England is the established Church of the nation, these bishops have a seat in the Lords by right of their offices - Lords Spiritual - and are allowed to participate in the debates of the Lords, though they do not represent a political party. The Bishops' Bench is the only bench in the House of Lords with arms at either end, so that they may be distinguished from political representatives. |
| Christ Church Cathedral | The Cathedral Church of Christ, or Christ Church Cathedral, is the official name of Canterbury Cathedral. It is the diocesan cathedral of the Diocese of Canterbury and as such is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It contains the Throne of St. Augustine, upon which all Archbishops of Canterbury are enthroned. |
| The Archbishops of Canterbury | ||||||||
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| Order | Name | Date | Order | Name | Date | Order | Name | Date |
| 1 | St. Augustine | 597-604 | 36 | St. Anselm | 1093-1109 | 71 | Matthew Parker | 1559-1575 |
| 2 | St. Laurentius | 605-619 | 37 | Ralph d'Escures | 1114-1122 | 72 | Edmund Grindal | 1575-1583 |
| 3 | St. Mellitus | 619-624 | 38 | William de Corbeil | 1123-1136 | 73 | John Whitgif | 1583-1604 |
| 4 | St. Justus | 624-627 | 39 | Theobald of Bec | 1139-1161 | 74 | Richard Bancroft | 1604-1610 |
| 5 | St. Honorius | 627-653 | 40 | St. Thomas Becket | 1162-1170 | 75 | George Abbot | 1611-1633 |
| 6 | St. Deusdedit | 655-664 | 41 | Richard of Dover | 1174-1184 | 76 | William Laud | 1633-1645 |
| 7 | St. Theodore of Tarsus | 668-690 | 42 | Baldwin of Exeter | 1184-1190 | The Interregnum
1649 - 1660 (See Vacant From 1645 - 1660) |
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| 8 | St. Berhtwald | 693-731 | 43 | Hubert Walter | 1193-1205 | 77 | William Juxon | 1660-1663 |
| 9 | St. Tatwine | 731-734 | 44 | Stephen Langton | 1207-1228 | 78 | Gilbert Sheldon | 1663-1677 |
| 10 | St. Nothelm | 735-739 | 45 | Richard le Grant | 1229-1231 | 79 | William Sancroft | 1677-1690 |
| 11 | St. Cuthbert | 740-760 | 46 | St. Edmund Rich | 1234-1240 | 80 | John Tillotson | 1691-1694 |
| 12 | St. Bregowine | 761-764 | 47 | Boniface of Savoy | 1245-1270 | 81 | Thomas Tenison | 1694-1715 |
| 13 | St. Jaenbert | 765-792 | 48 | Robert Kilwardby | 1273-1278 | 82 | William Wake | 1715-1737 |
| 14 | St. Æthelhard | 793-805 | 49 | John Peckham | 1279-1292 | 83 | John Potter | 1737-1747 |
| 15 | Wulfred | 805-832 | 50 | Robert Winchelsey | 1294-1313 | 84 | Thomas Herring | 1747-1757 |
| 16 | Feologild | 832 | 51 | Walter Reynolds | 1313-1327 | 85 | Matthew Hutton | 1757-1758 |
| 17 | Ceolnoth | 833-870 | 52 | Simon Meopham | 1328-1333 | 86 | Thomas Secker | 1758-1768 |
| 18 | Æthelred | 870-889 | 53 | John de Stratford | 1333-1348 | 87 | Frederick Cornwallis | 1768-1783 |
| 19 | Plegmund | 890-914 | 54 | Thomas Bradwardine | 1349 | 88 | John Moore | 1783-1805 |
| 20 | Athelm | 914-923 | 55 | Simon Islip | 1349-1366 | 89 | Charles Manners-Sutton | 1805-1828 |
| 21 | Wulfhelm | 923-942 | 56 | Simon Langham | 1366-1368 | 90 | William Howley | 1828-1848 |
| 22 | St. Oda the Severe | 942-958 | 57 | William Whittlesey | 1368-1374 | 91 | John Bird Sumner | 1848-1862 |
| 23 | Ælfsige | 959 | 58 | Simon Sudbury | 1375-1381 | 92 | Charles Thomas Longley | 1862-1868 |
| 24 | Berthelm | 959 | 59 | William Courtenay | 1381-1396 | 93 | Archibald Campbell Tait | 1868-1882 |
| 25 | St. Dunstan | 960-988 | 60 | Thomas Arundel | 1396-1397 1399-1414 |
94 | Edward White Benson | 1883-1896 |
| 26 | Athelgar | 988-990 | 61 | Robert Walden | 1397-1399 | 95 | Frederick Temple | 1896-1902 |
| 27 | Sigeric the Serious | 990-994 | 62 | Henry Chichele | 1414-1443 | 96 | Randall Thomas Davidson | 1903-1928 |
| 28 | Ælfric | 995-1005 | 63 | John Stafford | 1443-1452 | 97 | Cosmo Gordon Lang | 1928-1942 |
| 29 | St. Alphege | 1005-1012 | 64 | John Kempe | 1452-1454 | 98 | William Temple | 1942-1944 |
| 30 | Lyfing | 1013-1020 | 65 | Thomas Bourchier | 1454-1486 | 99 | Geoffrey Francis Fisher | 1945-1961 |
| 31 | Æthelnoth | 1020-1038 | 66 | John Morton | 1486-1500 | 100 | Arthur Michael Ramsey | 1961-1974 |
| 32 | Edsige | 1038-1050 | 67 | Henry Deane | 1501-1503 | 101 | Frederick Donald Coggan | 1974-1980 |
| 33 | Robert of Jumieges | 1051-1052 | 68 | William Warham | 1503-1532 | 102 | Robert Alexander Kennedy Runcie | 1980-1991 |
| 34 | Stigand | 1052-1070 | 69 | Thomas Cranmer | 1533-1556 | 103 | George Leonard Carey | 1991-2002 |
| 35 | Lanfranc | 1070-1089 | 70 | Reginald Pole | 1556-1558 | 104 | Rowan Douglas Williams | 2002- |
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| The Revd. Dr. George Leonard Carey |
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| The Revd. Dr. Rowan Douglas Williams |
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