Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justin Welby, who was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March 2013. Welby is the 105th in a line which goes back more than 1400 years to Augustine of Canterbury, the "Apostle to the English", sent from Rome in the year 597. Welby succeeded Rowan Williams. From the time of Augustine until the 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were
Old Palace, Canterbury The building became a Grade I listed building on 3 May 1967. Old Palace, Canterbury The Old Palace is a historic building situated within the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. It is the main residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his family when in Canterbury. Built within the grounds of the Cathedral in the early 10th century, the Old Palace was the residence of the Archbishop when he visited Canterbury. The building was therefore also referred to as the Archbishop's Palace. In 1647 during the English Civil War it was taken over by Parliament along with its estates. The Old