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
Ælric (Archbishop-elect of Canterbury) Ælric (Archbishop-elect of Canterbury) Ælric (fl. 1050), perhaps a misspelling of Ælfric or Æthelric, archbishop-elect of Canterbury, was a kinsman of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. According to the "Vita Ædwardi Regis" Ælric was brought up from early youth in the monastery of Christ Church at Canterbury, and was much beloved by his fellow monks. He was well skilled in worldly matters and took delight in them. On the death of Archbishop Eadsige (October 1050) Ælric was elected to the see of Canterbury by the monastic chapter of his house. In this election the clergy of the province seem to have