Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury

The archbishop of Canterbury is the main leader of the Church of England. This special job is very important for Christians in England and many other places around the world.

The first archbishop was Augustine of Canterbury, who came to England a long time ago in the year 597. Today, the archbishop is chosen by the British monarch. The 106th archbishop is Dame Sarah Mullally, who made history as the first woman to hold this job in 2026.

The archbishop lives mainly at Lambeth Palace in London, with another home near Canterbury Cathedral. As an important leader, the archbishop is one of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords, helping make decisions for the country.

The job of the archbishop is to lead the Church of England and support people all over the world. They bring together leaders from different countries and work for peace and understanding among different religions.