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Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' successor chosen New Archbishop of Canterbury to be chosen
(about 7 hours later)
Church officials are preparing to make a final decision on who is to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, ahead of Dr Rowan Williams' retirement from the post in December.Church officials are preparing to make a final decision on who is to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, ahead of Dr Rowan Williams' retirement from the post in December.
The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) will begin a three day meeting on Wednesday to select the best man for the top job in the Church of England. The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) will begin a three-day meeting on Wednesday to select the best man for the top job in the Church of England.
Dr Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.Dr Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.
The decision comes as a BBC poll shows general approval of his leadership.The decision comes as a BBC poll shows general approval of his leadership.
Share the burden
The selection also brings to an end a period of intense lobbying by Anglicans who believe the new archbishop will be taking over a critical time in the Church's history.The selection also brings to an end a period of intense lobbying by Anglicans who believe the new archbishop will be taking over a critical time in the Church's history.
After months of deliberation, 16 voting members of the commission, including clergy and lay people, have three days to come to a final decision by Friday.
The successor is likely to be named next week.
No decision has been made on whether women should be able to be ordained as bishops in the Church of the England, so the new Archbishop will be a man.
Contenders for the post include the Bishop of London Richard Chartres, the Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Norwich Graham James, the Bishop of Durham Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu - the second most senior bishop in the Church.
The Crown Nominations Committee has a grand sounding name, but it is mostly made up of ordinary members of the Church, clergy and lay people, appointed or elected to represent the diocese of Canterbury or the ruling Synod.The Crown Nominations Committee has a grand sounding name, but it is mostly made up of ordinary members of the Church, clergy and lay people, appointed or elected to represent the diocese of Canterbury or the ruling Synod.
Their task is anything but ordinary, and the 16-strong committee has met several times this year to carry out an exhaustive assessment of a range of potential candidates for Anglicanism's top job, using interviews for the first time.Their task is anything but ordinary, and the 16-strong committee has met several times this year to carry out an exhaustive assessment of a range of potential candidates for Anglicanism's top job, using interviews for the first time.
They will choose two names - probably by the end of Friday - and send them in order of preference to Downing Street.They will choose two names - probably by the end of Friday - and send them in order of preference to Downing Street.
The prime minister is very likely simply to endorse the preferred candidate and send his name to Buckingham Palace for the Queen, the Church's Supreme Governor, to approve.The prime minister is very likely simply to endorse the preferred candidate and send his name to Buckingham Palace for the Queen, the Church's Supreme Governor, to approve.
With the Church - and the wider Anglican Communion - facing serious internal divisions over issues such as homosexuality, Anglicans will be waiting anxiously for the outcome.With the Church - and the wider Anglican Communion - facing serious internal divisions over issues such as homosexuality, Anglicans will be waiting anxiously for the outcome.
But the protocol - and checking the chosen candidate actually wants the job - will take time, and an announcement from Downing Street is unlikely before next week.But the protocol - and checking the chosen candidate actually wants the job - will take time, and an announcement from Downing Street is unlikely before next week.
After months of deliberation, sixteen voting members of the commission, including clergy and lay people, have three days to come to a final decision by Friday.
The successor is likely to be named next week.
No decision has been made on whether women should be able to be ordained as bishops in the Church of the England, so the new Archbishop will be a man.
Contenders for the post include the Bishop of London Richard Chartres, the Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Norwich Graham James, the Bishop of Durham Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu - the second most senior bishop in the Church.
Others already elected by the House of Bishops to sit on the CNC - effectively removing themselves from the running - include the Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend James Newcome and the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Michael Perham.Others already elected by the House of Bishops to sit on the CNC - effectively removing themselves from the running - include the Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend James Newcome and the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Michael Perham.
The meeting comes on a day an opinion poll done for BBC Local Radio by the pollsters ComRes - who questioned 2,500 people in England - shows most people think Dr Williams has been a good leader.The meeting comes on a day an opinion poll done for BBC Local Radio by the pollsters ComRes - who questioned 2,500 people in England - shows most people think Dr Williams has been a good leader.
But a quarter said he has not kept the church relevant in modern Britain. But a quarter said he has not kept the Church relevant in modern Britain.
Close to splittingClose to splitting
The election process began in March, when Dr Williams, announced that he would be standing down at the end of the year.The election process began in March, when Dr Williams, announced that he would be standing down at the end of the year.
He is due to take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge in January.He is due to take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge in January.
Under his leadership, the Church of England has come close to splitting over the ordination of gay clergy and women bishops, and has struggled to maintain its membership.Under his leadership, the Church of England has come close to splitting over the ordination of gay clergy and women bishops, and has struggled to maintain its membership.
Earlier in September, Dr Williams said he had done too little to prevent the divide over homosexuality.Earlier in September, Dr Williams said he had done too little to prevent the divide over homosexuality.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Dr Williams also revealed that the church is drawing up plans to appoint a presidential figure to share some of the burden of running the worldwide Anglican communion. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Dr Williams also revealed that the Church is drawing up plans to appoint a presidential figure to share some of the burden of running the worldwide Anglican communion.
Dr Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women, and previously showed no objection to the appointment of an openly-gay bishop.Dr Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women, and previously showed no objection to the appointment of an openly-gay bishop.