New archbishop inherits divided Anglican world
Bishop Justin Welby, a former oil executive who’s emerged as a critic of corporate excess, will become the 105th archbishop of Canterbury, primate of the Church of England and leader of the worldwide 77-million-member Anglican Communion.
Welby, 56, succeeds Archbishop Rowan Williams, who will return to academia at Cambridge University next year. Speaking at a November 9 news conference in Canterbury, Welby said he is “utterly optimistic” about the future of the Church of England.