The Archbishop of Canterbury has been given the office of chancellor in the newly-created Canterbury Christ Church University.

The inauguration of Archbishop Rowan Williams to the position will be held at Canterbury Cathedral in December this year.

The university’s Vice-chancellor Professor Michael Wright said he was “honoured and delighted” to learn that Mr Williams would be joining the staff.

The college, which was awarded full university status last month, was opened in the 1960s with 500 trainee-teachers. The university body has since grown to 14,000 students spread over four campuses in Canterbury, Broadstairs, Tunbridge Wells and Chatham.

University status was granted in recognition of Canterbury’s “successful record in exercising the power to award taught undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.”

Professor Wright said: “Canterbury Christ Church was founded by the Church of England and has a very strong relationship with the Archbishop, therefore the appointment is very appropriate.”

Dr Williams was invited to attend a question and answer session with some of the university’s students on the first anniversary of his enthronement in 2004. A second visit was made later in the year to open a new building at Chatham named after him.

Although the role of chancellor is an honorary post, Dr Williams, who was professor of theology at Oxford from 1986 to 1992, will still make an appearance at some degree ceremonies.