The Archbishop of Canterbury has international leadership and pastoral responsibilities in the Anglican Communion. Seeking to be a focus of unity, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the four Instruments of Communion, along with the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primates' Meeting and the Lambeth Conference.
Appointing the next Archbishop of Canterbury is a process led by the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), whose role is to discern whom God may be calling to this vital ministry.
You can find out more about the process here.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a global leadership role in the Anglican Communion of churches. The Anglican Communion includes all 39 provinces in communion with the See of Canterbury.
The Archbishop has this title in recognition of the lead ecclesiastical role in England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has what is known as metropolitical authority (a supervisory authority for defined purposes) in relation to all bishops and clergy in the 30 dioceses in southern England. The Archbishop of York has the same authority in relation to the 14 dioceses in northern England.
Since 597, the Archbishop's See has been at Canterbury.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a key role in respect of Anglican relationships with other Christian churches in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Similarly, the Archbishop of Canterbury has a key role in respect of Anglican relationships with other faiths.