This week in Christian history: Billy Graham honor, Rowan Williams becomes Archbishop of Canterbury

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, February 27, 2022

Rowan Williams enthroned as Canterbury Archbishop – Feb. 27, 2003

Rowan Williams in his Christmas Message at Canterbury Cathedral on Dec. 25, 2012. | archbishopofcanterbury.org

This week marks the anniversary of when the Most Rev. Rowan Douglas Williams was enthroned as the archbishop of Canterbury, making him head of the global Anglican Communion.

Although Williams had technically taken the role of Canterbury Archbishop a couple of months earlier, the ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral marked the official formal reception and celebration of his new position.

Williams’ reign, which lasted until 2012, was heavily focused on trying to heal the theological disputes between member churches of the Anglican Communion over issues like female ordination and whether to bless homosexual unions.

“His time in office has been marked by a slowly growing schism in the worldwide Anglican church, which he has failed to heal,” reported the Guardian in 2012, when Williams announced his plans to step down to pursue an academic post.

“Williams has been attacked by conservatives for his liberal views on homosexuality and by liberals for failing to live up to these principles. But he has been respected on all sides for his gifts as a preacher of great eloquence and flashes of clarity.”