Roles & Responsibilities
Archbishop as Patron
An important part of the Archbishop's public engagement is through his relationship as patron or president to over 300 organisations.
In addition to national charities and institutions, he is involved in a wide range of interests and good causes within the Church of England, the worldwide Anglican Communion and in secular and civic life.
In this way the Archbishop is able to support public and voluntary service and to affirm the work and achievements of these organisations. A substantial proportion reflects the Archbishop's particular interest in environmental issues, in education, medical and spiritual healing, homelessness, music, poetry and the links between art and religion.
An active link is maintained between the Archbishop's office and his patronage organisations. During the course of a year, the Archbishop will undertake a number of engagements directly related to this area of his work and this includes extending hospitality at Lambeth Palace, so that he has an opportunity to meet the people directly involved.
The Armed Forces
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a special link with the Armed Forces of the Crown as a result of his role as Ordinary to the Anglican Chaplains serving in the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
"Ordinary" is an ecclesiastical term entitling the holder to exercise jurisdiction in his own right, but the Archbishop's role is much wider, encompassing an overall responsibility for the pastoral and spiritual welfare of the chaplains as well as the power to grant licences to officiate within the three Services.
Day to day responsibility for this is carried out by the Bishop to the Forces (currently the Rt Reverend Stephen Venner) and a regular link is maintained between the Archbishop's office and the Chaplain of the Fleet, the Chaplain-General and the Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force.
The Archbishop endeavours to undertake at least two engagements a year connected with Her Majesty's Forces and military chaplains. These have included a conference for serving chaplains which he hosted at Lambeth Palace and visits to an RAF station in Oxfordshire and to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, Surrey.