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In the [[Anglican Church]], the '''Archbishop of Canterbury''' is the Primate of [[England]] and leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current Archbishop of Canterbury is Dr. [[Rowan Williams]] (2002- ), who was seen as a theological liberal when he was chosen to be Archbishop. His time as head of the Anglican Communion has been marked by almost ceaseless controversy between liberal and traditionalist churches, clergy, and laity.  

In the [[Anglican Church]], the '''Archbishop of Canterbury''' is the Primate of all [[England]] and leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current Archbishop of Canterbury is Dr. [[Rowan Williams]] (2002- ), who was seen as a theological liberal when he was chosen to be Archbishop. His time as head of the Anglican Communion has been marked by almost ceaseless controversy between liberal and traditionalist churches, clergy, and laity.  

==Peerage==

==Peerage==

The Archbishop is a [[Lord Spiritual]] in the [[House of Lords]] as long as he holds his position. The practice has developed of appointing retired archbishops as peers so that they continue to sit in the Lords after their retirement.

The Archbishop is a [[Lord Spiritual]] in the [[House of Lords]] as long as he holds his position. The practice has developed of appointing retired archbishops as peers so that they continue to sit in the Lords after their retirement.

==Present and former Archbishops==

==Present and former Archbishops==

The present Archbishop is Dr [[Rowan Williams]] (2002-), a former academic theologian who had previously served as Archbishop of Wales. He is seen as being a theological liberal.

The present Archbishop, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable [[Rowan Williams]] (2002- ), is a former academic theologian who had previously served as Archbishop of Wales.  

 

Archbishop Williams was preceded by Archbishop [[George Carey]] (1991-2002). Carey rose from working-class origins through the church's ranks, and was seen as being part of the Church of England's [[Evangelism|evangelical]] wing.

Archbishop Williams was preceded by the Rt. Rev. [[George Carey]] (1991-2002). Carey rose through the church from working-class origins, and was seen as being on the Church of England's [[Evangelism|evangelical]] wing.

Carey was preceded by Archbishop [[Robert Runcie]] (1980-1991). Runcie was seen as a fully-paid-up member of the British Establishment, whose contacts and knowledge of protocol were markedly superior to those of Archbishop Carey. His natural home was the [[High Church]] wing of the Church of England, whose beliefs and practices have some affinities with [[Roman Catholicism]].

Carey was preceded by Archbishop [[Robert Runcie]] (1980-1991). Runcie was seen as a fully-paid-up member of the British Establishment, whose contacts and knowledge of protocol were markedly superior to those of the more naive, working-class Archbishop Carey. His natural home was the [[High Church]] wing of the Church of England, whose beliefs and practices have some affinities with [[Roman Catholicism]].

There has been an Archbishop of Canterbury since St. Augustine of Canterbury who, in the late fifth century, was sent as a missionary to Britain by Pope Gregory the Great.

== See also ==

== See also ==