Justin Welby

Anglican bishop

British London, England Capricorn

Quick Info

ProfessionAnglican bishop
NationalityBritish
Date of Birth06/01/1956
Age70 years
BirthplaceLondon, England
Zodiac SignCapricorn

Latest News about Justin Welby

04/11/2026

Former Archbishop Justin Welby wrote in The Independent that paying slavery reparations to Caribbean nations would be a moral evil. He argued that the UK of today differs greatly from Britain in 1833 and that many taxpayers are descended from enslaved people or from West Africa. His comments came as King Charles made a visit to the Caribbean and the issue of reparations was being debated.

02/10/2026

Welby travelled to Nigeria's Plateau State to meet victims and relatives of deadly attacks in the Jos and Bassa areas. He also met religious leaders, including at the Jos Central Mosque, and called for cooperation between Christian and Muslim leaders to protect vulnerable communities.

28/02/2026

Welby said on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast that he has been seeing a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist to help him come to terms with his failures in handling the Church of England's abuse scandal. He also disputed some conclusions of the Makin report, while conceding that he had not done enough to prioritise victims.

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Bio/Wiki

SummaryJustin Portal Welby is a British Anglican bishop who served as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior bishop in the Church of England, from 2013 to 2025. He was previously Dean of Liverpool and Bishop of Durham. He resigned in November 2024 after an independent review into the church's handling of abuse allegations linked to John Smyth, and his term ended on 6 January 2025. He was succeeded by Sarah Mullally, who was installed in March 2026 as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolingEton College

Personal Life

SpouseCaroline Welby (m. 1983)
ChildrenFive children, including a daughter who died suddenly

Family

MotherJane Portal, private secretary to Winston Churchill
Great uncleRab Butler, former Conservative deputy prime minister
StepfatherA Labour peer
Notes on childrenHis daughter died suddenly

Career

Before ordinationWorked as an oil executive and oil trader in Nigeria
Dean of Liverpool2007 to 2011
Bishop of Durham2011 to 2013
Archbishop of CanterburyElected 4 February 2013; installed 21 March 2013; term ended 6 January 2025
Coronation rolePlaced St. Edward's Crown on the head of Charles III at the coronation on 6 May 2023
HonoursRoyal Victorian Order (GCVO)
Post-resignationHas continued to speak publicly on church, social and international matters since leaving office in 2025

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. He was an oil trader in Nigeria before becoming a priest.
2. He was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2013 with only a few months' experience as a bishop.
3. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to resign over abuse within his church in more than 1,000 years, according to commentary at the time of his resignation.

Also born on 6 January

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