Justin Welby steps down as Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has today announced that he will be stepping down from his role in December 2023.

Welby has been the Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013, and his tenure has been marked by a number of controversies, including his handling of the sex abuse scandal in the Church of England.

Welby's decision to step down comes at a time of great change for the Church of England.

The Church is facing declining attendance and a growing number of its members are questioning its traditional teachings on issues such as homosexuality and women's ordination.

It is not yet known who will succeed Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. The decision will be made by the Church's electoral college, which is made up of representatives from the Church's various dioceses.

One of the frontrunners to succeed Welby is the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally.

Mullally would be the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, and her appointment would be a significant step forward for the Church of England.

However, Mullally has also been criticized for her conservative views on issues such as homosexuality. It is not clear whether she would be able to unite the Church behind her.

Another potential successor to Welby is the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

Sentamu is a charismatic and popular figure, and he is seen as a potential bridge-builder between the Church's different factions.

However, Sentamu is also 71 years old, and he has said that he does not want to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury beyond the age of 75.

The decision of who will succeed Welby will have a major impact on the future of the Church of England.

It will be up to the Church's electoral college to choose the person who they believe is best equipped to lead the Church through the challenges of the 21st century.