Stephen Cottrell now C of E’s temporary leader after Justin Welby’s final day

The Catholic Herald/ Crux• January 8, 2025

The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell assumed temporary leadership of the Church of England on 7 January 2025.

The C of E’s Archbishop of York will hold the post until an official decision is made on who will lead the established state Church in England and the Crown Dependencies, after Justin Welby spent his last day in office on 6 January during the feast of the Epiphany.

The day also marked the 69th birthday of Mr Welby, who served as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.

A spokesman for Lambeth Palace told the Daily Telegraph: “The Archbishop of Canterbury is spending his final day in office privately at Lambeth Palace. He will attend Morning Prayer, lunchtime Eucharist, Evensong, and conclude the day with a service of Compline.

“The Archbishop will be joined by current staff and some friends and former colleagues across the day so he can thank them for their work and say farewell.”

The events also included lunch in the palace’s Great Hall and afternoon tea in its historic Guard Room, followed by a more intimate evening event and dinner, according to the Telegraph.

My Welby announced he would relinquish his position as Archbishop of Canterbury last November, after an independent report found he failed in his “personal and moral” duty to report John Smyth, described by the Telegraph as the Church of England’s most prolific child abuser, to police.

The Telegraph reports that Mr Welby been criticised for the way he spent his last day “celebrating his time in the role”, with one of Smyth’s victims quoted as saying: “I find it extraordinary that the Archbishop thinks it appropriate to celebrate his time in office.

The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, conducts a consecration service of new C of E bishops, York, England, 10 October 2024. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.)

“Presumably at relatively enormous expense to the Church, the Archbishop lunches, while victims wait. Might the time have been better spent actually delivering his testimony to victims as he promised?

“Today should be a time for sorrowful reflection, not a celebration of his flawed time in office.”

His temporary successor has also been criticised for his role in the safeguarding controversy, with Cottrell facing calls to resign over his handling of what happened.

The Telegraph reports that as many as 120 guests may have attended Lambeth Palace over the course of the day to “celebrate and bid farewell to the outgoing Archbishop”.

It adds that it is understood that the day was structured predominantly around the religious services, rather than being focused on the birthday of Mr Welby, and notes that the majority of guests attending for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner were understood to be C of E staff.

Photo: Justin Welby lays down his archbishop’s crozier on the altar in the chapel at Lambeth Palace, a symbolic act that marks the conclusion of his tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury. (Image courtesy of archbishopofcanterbury.org.)