The Archbishop of Canterbury will officially conclude his ministry as Archbishop today on the Feast of the Epiphany 6 January 2025
The Archbishop will be spending the day privately at Lambeth Palace, where he will attend a lunchtime Eucharist in the chapel, and a service of Evensong at the end of the day. Archbishop Justin will legally cease to be Archbishop of Canterbury at midnight tonight.
During the Evensong service he will lay down his bishop’s crozier (pastoral staff) on the altar, marking the end of his ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury. After 6 January, Archbishop Justin’s crozier will be taken to Canterbury Cathedral, where a member of the Cathedral team will lay it on the altar in a short private service.
An instrument of delegation has been signed by Archbishop Justin Welby that delegates his official functions mainly to the Archbishop of York, some to the Bishop of London and diocesan functions to the Bishop of Dover. They will exercise these responsibilities from 7 January.
