Archbishop of Canterbury to Be Absent from Christmas Services

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has revealed that he will not be participating in any public Christmas services this year. This decision comes as he prepares to step down from his role in January, following his resignation over the Church’s handling of an abuse scandal.

Lambeth Palace confirmed that Archbishop Welby will spend the festive period privately with his family. Traditionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury delivers a sermon on Christmas Day from Canterbury Cathedral, a longstanding Church of England tradition. However, this year, the focus will shift to the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who is expected to take over many of Welby’s official functions temporarily from January 6.

The BBC has also confirmed that Archbishop Welby will not deliver the traditional televised New Year message on New Year’s Day. Instead, he will honour a small number of remaining commitments before his departure.

Archbishop Welby’s resignation follows the independent Makin Review, which criticized his handling of child abuse claims within the Church. In his resignation statement, Welby expressed sorrow for the victims and survivors of abuse, acknowledging his responsibility in the matter.

As the Church of England navigates this transition, the process of appointing the next Archbishop of Canterbury is expected to take several months.

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