Runners and riders: Who will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury?
The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned over his handling of a child sex abuse scandal, sparking speculation over who will replace him.
The Crown Nominations Commission is in charge of selecting who will step into his shoes.
Made up of both senior clergy and lay people, its role is to submit the name of a preferred candidate – and a second appointable candidate – to the Prime Minister. There are 16 voting members on the commission.
Sir Keir Starmer is constitutionally responsible for tendering advice on the appointment to the King.
The frontrunners to replace the Most Rev Justin Welby include:
The Rt Rev Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, has served as the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, focusing on climate action. Bishop Usher is regarded as a forward-thinking leader with a focus on social justice.
Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, was the Church of England’s first Persian-born bishop.
As an Iranian refugee, she has authority on issues related to immigration, diversity and multiculturalism within the Church. Dr Francis-Dehqani has been a critic of the Archbishop’s managerial approach.
The Rt Rev Martyn Snow, the Bishop of Leicester, has worked to build relationships between different religious communities. Bishop Snow was the Archbishop’s pick to succeed him.
The Rt Rev Michael Beasley, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, previously served as Bishop of Hertford and has a background in epidemiology. During the Covid pandemic, he provided guidance on health-related issues within communities.
What is the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury?
The Church of England is presided over by two archbishops: the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has the privilege of crowning the Kings and Queens of England, and ranks immediately after the princes of royal blood.
The Archbishop is seen as the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, with their official residence at Lambeth Palace, in London, with a second residence at the Old Palace in Canterbury.
The Archbishop is also the senior spiritual member of the House of Lords, and is the patron of several charities and organisations.
The first Archbishop of Canterbury was Augustine, who was sent to England by Pope Gregory I with the mission of converting the natives to Roman Christianity.