The Spectator

Who are the longest-serving Archbishops of Canterbury?

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issue 16 November 2024

Arch rivals

Justin Welby served longer as Archbishop of Canterbury than any of his four immediate predecessors, but others have served far longer. The longest since the Reformation was Randall Davidson, who held the position between 1903 and 1928, when he retired aged 80 – becoming the first not to die in post.

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