All Archbishop of Canterbury articles
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OpinionThe Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury were right to call for peace. It’s their job
When Sarah Mullally reinforced the Pope’s message of peace, she risked the ire of Trump. But both leaders were right to call for an end to conflict, says Tony Wilson. It’s their job to speak as Jesus taught, even when it seems counter-cultural to our political leaders
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OpinionRowan Williams thinks church bureaucracy is demonic. I disagree
The former Archbishop of Canterbury is no fan of managerialism, but it can be necessary and effective to help church leaders focus on evangelism and growth, says Rev Dr Ian Paul. When it doesn’t, it must be ruthlessly cut out - starting right at the top
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OpinionWhy Sarah Mullally wants to be the Archbishop of Compassion
With much anticipation surrounding how the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s tenure will unfold, Andrew Atherstone suggests one thing can be expected from Sarah Mullally: a primacy defined by a steadfast commitment to compassion
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OpinionThe first female Archbishop of Canterbury is here. It’s a historic moment for Church and country
Whatever happens under the leadership of Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, it is a huge step forward for equality in the workplace and wider society, says Abigail Frymann Rouch
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OpinionThe Archbishop of Canterbury has missed a chance to share Jesus with Muslims (again)
Friendly interfaith gestures have their place, but Dr Andy Bannister is frustrated that successive Archbishops of Canterbury are neglecting what he believes is their primary calling: to proclaim Christ clearly and confidently
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Magazine FeaturesThe battle for the parish: Inside the Church of England’s civil war
As evangelicals in the Church of England push for new churches to be planted while traditionalists rally to “save the parish”, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury will need to grapple with questions of place, power and what it really means to be a local church in 21st-century England. Tim Wyatt reports
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News AnalysisExplained: Has Gafcon just split from the Anglican Communion?
Is this the long-predicted schism? Divisions over sexuality have long plagued the Anglican Communion, but according to some commentators, a full separation is now taking place. Tim Wyatt takes a closer look at Gafcon’s latest statement, which includes the revelation this group of churches will elect their own chair to replace the Archbishop of Canterbury
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InterviewsDame Sarah Mullally: ‘Stepping into Church leadership was the biggest decision of my life’
Before becoming the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally was NHS England’s chief nursing officer. In this 2009 conversation, she shares how her career background shapes her vision for the Church and the challenges of leading with care
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News AnalysisHere’s what you need to know about the new Archbishop of Canterbury
With her experience both inside and outside of the Church, Dame Sarah Mullally is considered a safe pair of hands, says Tim Wyatt. But some say she is an uninspiring speaker and may not be up to leading the Church through the challenges it now faces
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OpinionDame Sarah Mullally is the new Archbishop of Canterbury. I’m praying she’ll lead with faith, hope and love
The Anglican Communion has its first female leader. As Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, prepares to lead the Church during a time of unprecedented turmoil, Bishop Jill Duff explains how Christians can be praying for her
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OpinionExplained: Why it’s taking so long to choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury
The election of Pope Leo XIV has focused attention on another Church in need of a new leader. Yet what took the Catholic Church just two weeks will take the CofE almost a year. Why does it take so long, and what has gone wrong already? Tim Wyatt offers his guide to the appointment of the next ABC
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OpinionI’m praying Pope Leo will bring Catholics and Anglicans closer together
Pope Leo XIV has been elected as the new head of the Catholic Church. Could the curious coincidence of a new Archbishop of Canterbury at the same time present a fresh opportunity for Anglicans and Catholics to work together? George Pitcher makes the case for reunification
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OpinionWho will be the next leader of the Church of England?
The position of Archbishop of Canterbury has been vacant since January 2025. Who will be the person to guide the Church of England through what has been a volatile era of polarisation, safeguarding scandals, yet spiritual awakening amongst the youth and renewal in the UK. Here are seven prospective candidates
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OpinionJustin Welby’s BBC interview was a very bad idea. What was he thinking?
Perhaps the former Archbishop of Canterbury intended to convey remorse and accountability in his conversation with Laura Kuenssberg. But that’s not how it’s been received, observes George Pitcher
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OpinionThe CofE cannot mark its own homework when it comes to safeguarding
To the bewilderment of many, the General Synod has voted against transferring oversight of its safeguarding to an independent body, a decision that George Pitcher says has shown it is well past time to purge the CofE of its hypocrisy
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News AnalysisEvangelical activist or failed reformer? The triumphs and trials of Justin Welby
He brought down predatory payday lenders, turbocharged evangelism and even welcomed refugees to live with him at Lambeth Palace. But unresolved issues of sexuality and safeguarding dogged Welby throughout his tenure. Tim Wyatt looks at the highs and lows of Justin Welby’s time as Archbishop of Canterbury
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OpinionWho would want to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury? It’s an impossible job
As Justin Welby lays down his bishop’s crozier, George Pitcher takes a stab at writing a job description for the next Archbishop of Canterbury
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OpinionThe Children’s Society were wrong to cancel Welby - but I understand why they did
Refusing a donation from the Archbishop of Canterbury makes sense in our ’cancel culture’ society, says Miriam Cates. And until the CofE starts putting people above process, the problems will remain
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OpinionThree cheers for Rev Richard Coles on I’m a Celebrity
While Justin Welby was in the House of Lords exhibiting precisely how not to conduct yourself in the face of safeguarding failures, Rev Richard Coles was in the jungle of the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here embodying all the qualities we would hope for in leader of the Church of England, says Rev Alex Frost
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OpinionSaint Boris the Skinny shouldn’t be throwing stones at the Church of England
Boris Johnson has blamed the UK’s obesity crisis on the CofE. Jonty Langley thinks he can smell a whiff of hypocrisy
