List of Archbishops of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the "Primate of All England" (the "first bishop" of England), effectively serving as the head of the established Church of England and, symbolically, of the worldwide Anglican Communion. From the 6th century until the 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Eighteen Archbishops were ultimately canonised by that Church, as noted in the list. During the English Reformation the church broke away from the authority of the Pope, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since then the archbishops have been outside of the succession of the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy and have led the independent national church.

In the Middle Ages there was considerable variation in the nomination of the archbishop and other bishops. At various times the choice was made by the canons of Canterbury Cathedral, the king of England, or the Pope. Since the Reformation, the church is explicitly a state church and the choice is legally that of the British crown; today it is made in the name of the monarch by the Prime Minister, from a shortlist of two selected by an ad hoc committee called the Crown Nominations Commission.

Today, the archbishop has four main roles:

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