January 6th 2025.
As the clock strikes midnight on Monday, the position of Archbishop of Canterbury will become vacant, marking the end of Justin Welby's 12-year tenure. This significant event has sparked a heated competition among candidates vying for the coveted role. Among them are a former nurse, a refugee, and even a beekeeper.
The process of selecting the 106th leader of the Church of England will be overseen by a secretive committee led by a former British spy chief, Lord Evans of Weardale. This commission, known as the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), will be responsible for finding and voting for suitable candidates. The CNC will meet three times before autumn to cast their secret ballots and determine Welby's successor.
Welby's resignation was a result of his handling of a church abuse scandal involving John Smyth, who had abused over 130 boys and young men over a span of five decades. An independent review found that Welby could have taken action against Smyth in 2013. As a consequence, more than 100 bishops, including 42 senior diocesan bishops, have thrown their hats into the ring to replace Welby.
One of the leading contenders is Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London. Mullally, a former nurse, has already stepped into Welby's shoes by taking on his metropolitan functions while the position is vacant. She was appointed the Chief Nursing Officer for England in 1999 and was awarded a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 for her contributions to nursing and midwifery. Mullally made history in 2018 when she became the first female Bishop of London, and if she is chosen, she will also become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
Another strong candidate is Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford. Francis-Dehqani's story is one of resilience and courage as she arrived in the UK as a refugee from Iran following her brother's assassination. Her family had converted to Christianity, making them targets for persecution in Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. She is outspoken on social issues and conflicts in the Middle East and has been the Bishop of Chelmsford since April 2021.
Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, also has a strong chance of landing the top job. Usher, an ecologist and avid beekeeper, is the church's lead bishop on the environment. He is also involved in various charitable organizations and played a role in the 2023 Coronation as one of the two bishop assistants to Queen Camilla.
Michael Beasley, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, is another noteworthy candidate. Beasley, a former epidemiologist, has been actively involved in the church's response to the pandemic as a member of the Church of England's Covid task force. He also made headlines when he addressed the crowd at Glastonbury Festival in 2024.
Martyn Snow, the Bishop of Leicester, has a unique perspective on the church's global roots, having been born in Indonesia and working in West Africa. He is also a member of the House of Lords with a focus on issues related to poverty. The Church of England has also tasked him with addressing racism and prejudice as a member of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns.
Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, could also make history as the first black Archbishop of Canterbury. Born in Jamaica, she became the Church of England's first black female bishop in 2019. She has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion within the church and has served as a chaplain to both Queen Elizabeth II and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Newcastle, has been vocal in her criticism of senior church figures regarding their handling of abuse cases. She has been a bishop since 2023 and has not been afraid to speak out against failures in the church's safeguarding policies. She previously served as the Bishop of Waikato in New Zealand before being appointed Bishop of Ripon in North Yorkshire.
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