Justin Welby named as archbishop

9 November 2012 Last updated at 06:12 ET

The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, has been officially confirmed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

The 56-year-old will become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the 77 million-strong Anglican Communion.

Bishop Welby, who became a bishop only a year ago, replaces Rowan Williams who is retiring in December after 10 years.

He will take on the Church of England's most senior post at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March 2013.

Prime Minister David Cameron made the announcement via Twitter.

Bishop Welby said: "I don't think anyone could be more surprised than me at the outcome of this process. It has been an experience, reading more about me than I knew myself. To be nominated to Canterbury is at the same time overwhelming and astonishing.

"It is overwhelming because of those I follow, and the responsibility it has. It is astonishing because it is something I never expected to happen."

The Most Reverend Rowan Williams said he was delighted by the appointment.

"I have had the privilege of working closely with him on various occasions and have always been enriched and encouraged by the experience," he said.

"He has an extraordinary range of skills and is a person of grace, patience, wisdom and humour. He will bring to this office both a rich pastoral experience and a keen sense of international priorities, for Church and world."

Special envoy

Bishop Welby was educated at Eton and Cambridge University, and then spent 11 years in the oil industry before studying theology at Durham. He was ordained in 1992.

He became Rector of Southam in 1995 and was later appointed canon residentiary of Coventry Cathedral. He left the area in 2007 when he was appointed Dean of Liverpool.

He took up the post of Bishop of Durham in November 2011 and worked as Rowan Williams' special envoy to Africa, attempting to build unity between Christian and Muslim communities in Nigeria.

Bishop Welby is regarded by observers as being on the evangelical wing of the Church, closely adhering to traditional interpretations of the Bible with a strong emphasis on making the Church outward-looking.

Even within the evangelical community, however, there are significant differences of outlook on questions of doctrine.

The Crown Nominations Commission, which nominates two candidates to the prime minister, who then advises the Queen on the appointment, held a three-day meeting in September to consider the contenders to be the next archbishop, but no announcement followed.

Dr Williams' successor will become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, and the nominal leader of 77 million Anglicans worldwide - though conservative Anglican provinces, especially in Africa, have been setting up alternative organisational structures of their own.


Name	Age*	Bishop for	Diocese	Education	Job before ordination
Source: Lambeth Palace *Age at nomination, Justin Welby's nomination to be confirmed
Justin Welby*	56	1 year	Durham	Eton College	Oil executive
Rowan Williams 2002-present	52	10 years	Monmouth	Dyvenor School, Swansea	Academic
George Carey 1991-2002	54	3 years	Bath and Wells	Bifrons Secondary Modern, Barking	London Electricity Board and RAF
Robert Runcie 1980-1991	58	10 years	St Albans	Merchant Taylors, Liverpool	None but saw active service in WWII
Donald Coggan 1974-1980	64	15 years	Bradford, York	Merchant Taylors, London	None
Michael Ramsey 1961-1974	56	9 years	Durham, York	Repton School	None