Evangelical activist or failed reformer? The triumphs and trials of Justin Welby
By 
Tim Wyatt2025-01-10T12:50:00
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
Justin Welby has formally laid down his crozier, ending his nearly 12-year stint as Archbishop of Canterbury.
His time in office will be forever marked by how it ended after he became the first archbishop to resign in disgrace, following a critical report over a safeguarding scandal. But his decade and more in office was hugely eventful and influential long before the John Smyth abuse story.
Welby entered Lambeth Palace as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013. He arrived…
Related articles
-
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
-
OpinionWhy I’m pleased the Pope visited a mosque, but declined the invitation to pray there
When Pope Leo politely declined to pray inside a mosque, he modelled how Christians can show respect for our Muslim friends, while being clear about our theological differences, says Andy Bannister
-
Opinion‘Putting Christ at the heart of Christmas’ has nothing to do with Christian Nationalism
When Christmas becomes a political battleground, Christians must remember the child in the manger — and why his way of love leaves no room for nationalist distortions of the faith, says Rev Al Barrett
More from News Analysis
-
News Analysis1700 years since Nicaea, Catholic and Orthodox churches are planning a show of unity. Will it work?
In his first foreign trip, Pope Leo is travelling to Turkey to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Nicaean Council with Orthodox Church leaders. It’s supposed to be a powerful demonstration of Christian unity, but that message could be in jeopardy on the Orthodox side, as Andreja Bogdanovski reports
-
News Analysis2,000 more churches could close within 5 years. Can Britain save its sacred spaces?
With 2,000 churches warning they may close within the next five years, heritage professionals and church leaders gathered at the Victoria and Albert Museum to confront the crisis facing Britain’s churches. AJ Gomez went along to find out their plan to address what some are calling a “national emergency”
-
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
- Issues
- Topics A-Z
- Writers A-Z
- © 2025 Premier Christianity
Site powered by Webvision Cloud