Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, one of the largest bodies of Christians in the world. The archbishop is also the senior bishop of the Church of England, sometimes called the primate of all England. He oversees the Diocese of Canterbury, a district of the church. He and the archbishop of York preside over the General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England. The archbishop of Canterbury also heads international Anglican gatherings, such as the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council. He lives at Lambeth Palace in London.
The title of archbishop of Canterbury dates back to 597. That year, Pope Gregory I sent missionaries led by a monk named Augustine from Rome to England to convert its people to Christianity. Augustine and his missionary monks converted thousands of people. The pope named Augustine, now known as Saint Augustine of Canterbury, archbishop of Canterbury in 601. Today, the British prime minister chooses the archbishop in the name of the British monarch.
See also Anglican Communion ; Archbishop ; Augustine of Canterbury, Saint ; Bishop ; Church of England .
