Archbishop of Canterbury salary and Net worth —
Although all eyes will be on the new King and Queen, the Archbishop has a crucial job with millions watching him too. Leading the coronation tomorrow, we investigate the Archbishop of Canterbury’s net worth, his salary and if he has a wife.
It’s not a privilege bestowed upon all Archbishops, but tomorrow Justin Welby will be officiating perhaps the most important event of his life. Leading the ceremony after the procession tomorrow, he will bestow the oath upon King Charles III and Camilla Mountbatten-Windsor as well as making his own commitment to the King and Queen as they become head of the sovereign.
After taking on the role in 2012, Archbishop Welby officiated the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as leading the sermons for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September last year.
However, this weekend, he will be undertaking a job only a few have done before by crowing a new King of the UK and the Commonwealth.
The Archbishop of Canterbury net worth
Becoming the senior bishop of the Church of England and only the 105th to have the title is impressive enough. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury also has a net worth of £3 million, despite his salary being considerably less.
It’s likely this is due to his title, position within Royal Family events and the House of Lords, and his rather humble living situation despite his high profile.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s net worth would have accrued as he gained more prominence in the Church of England. After being ordained in 1992, he served 15 years in Coventry. In 2007, he was Dean of Liverpool for four years before becoming Bishop of Durham for a year. It was in 2012 that he became the Archbishop of Canterbury when Rowan Williams retired after ten years.
Archbishop of Canterbury salary
Justin Welby
archbishop of Canterbury
As the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby earns just over £85,000 a year. However, this has been frozen since 2021, something that affected all Church of England clergy.
While still receiving a salary, the clergy also get other things for free. This includes rent-free housing, bills, council tax and other expenses being paid by the Church.
The Archbishop of Canterbury wife and children
Many believe that being a member of the clergy, especially one in such authority, would mean a life of celibacy and not taking a partner.
This is the case for monks and nuns. However, it’s a false presumption about bishops and more under the Church of England.
Justin Welby married his wife, Caroline, in the late 1970s and the two have six children together. The couple share Tim, Peter, Katherine, Eleanor, Hannah, and Johanna. Sadly, they lost their seven-month-old son, Johanna, in an accident in 1983.
Justin and his wife live in Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop’s London residence.
Clearly settled in a happy life now, Welby had more turbulent beginnings. After being raised by a man who he believed to be his father (who was also engaged to actress Vanessa Redgrave), he revealed in 2016 that his biological father was Sir Anthony Montague Browne, a private secretary to Winston Churchill.
Can Justin Welby be sacked as the Archbishop of Canterbury amid ousting drama?
Yes, the Archbishop of Canterbury can be sacked.
The reigning monarch and assumed leader of the Church of England appoints the bishop. Typically, this happens after the death or retirement of whoever came before them. However, this decision could easily be reversed, with King Charles able to fire Justin Welby if he desires.
In action, the formal decision would be made in parliament. The King or Queen would then sign the line of procedure for the Archbishop’s removal.
As the supreme bishop of the Church of England, other clergy members cannot sack the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, they can oust them, meaning refusing to acknowledge their position.
Unfortunately, this was the case for Welby earlier this year. After the Archbishop supported the blessings of same-sex couples in Civil Partnerships, leaders of the Anglican church around the world “disqualified” the Church of England as the mother church. In a statement, The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches said that it no longer considers Justin Welby to be leader of the global communion.
The coronation ceremony begins at approximately 11 am tomorrow (Saturday, May 6). Leading the proceeding, the Archbishop will certainly have a busy Bank Holiday weekend.
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