Primate of All England

This exhibition explores the role and installation of the Archbishops of Canterbury through time. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop in the Church of England and considered its spiritual leader. The Archbishop is also the ceremonial leader of the global Anglican Communion. Internationally, they are one of the four ‘instruments of communion’, a focus of unity, with pastoral responsibilities in the Anglican Communion. Traditionally, as one of the primates of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop is the primus inter pares – the first among equals.

The Anglican Communion consists of 42 autonomous ‘sister churches’, in more than 165 countries, and identifies with both the Protestant and Catholic streams of Western Christianity. It is one of the world’s largest Christian denominations, with tens of millions of members around the globe. The Communion is organised into a series of provinces and extra-provincial areas. The provinces are subdivided into dioceses, and the dioceses into parishes. The United Kingdom is divided into four provinces, each with its own archbishop or primate. Following historic divisions in 733, the English Church was organised into two provinces: Canterbury and York.

Take a look at the list of all 106 Archbishops of Canterbury below.
Click on the featured Archbishops (in purple) to find out more.

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