Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu

“It is with great sadness that I received the news that the Archbishop of Canterbury will be stepping down at the end of this year.

“Our partnership in the gospel over the past six years has been the most creative period of my ministry. It has been life-giving to have led missions together, gone on retreats and prayed together. In his company I have drunk deeply from the wells of God’s mercy and love and it has all been joyful. He is a real brother to me in Christ.

“The last decade has been a challenging time for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. Thankfully, Archbishop Rowan is a remarkable and gifted leader who has strengthened the bonds of affection. Despite his courageous, tireless and holy endeavour, he has been much maligned by people who should have known better. For my part he has been God’s apostle for our time.

“His stepping down to pursue something he dearly loves – teaching and writing - is received with gratitude, as this will continue to be a blessing to the Church. I am delighted that he is not going far away and will continue to offer service to the Church of England and the wider Church in its witness to our society. May God’s blessing continue to be showered upon him.

“More will be said nearer his time of departure. For now, Archbishop Rowan, Jane and the family will remain in our prayers.”

The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Justin Welby

“The Archbishop has brought a wealth of wisdom and spiritual guidance to the role over the last 10 years to what is a very demanding job. He has been incredibly supportive to me personally in ministry and in the taking up of the job here in Durham. I would like to thank him for all his help, encouragement, guidance and spiritual leadership that he has brought to the role and I wish him every best wish his new role as Master of Magdalene College Cambridge."

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan

“Dr Rowan Williams has been the most able Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the Church once he’s gone. He is a deeply Christian man, both humble and holy, always approachable and never standing on ceremony. As such he has endeared himself to many people.

“He has worked tirelessly over the past decade to hold the Anglican Communion together, taking very seriously the views of those who differ from him. He has tried to encourage everyone to work together, rather than to pursue their own agendas, and that is always a difficult task.

“In Wales, of course, we’ve been particularly proud of him and he’s been a wonderful ambassador for our country. He’s always delighted to return and has an official Welsh weekend every year – next weekend in fact – when he’s always welcomed back with open arms.

“No doubt, being Archbishop of Canterbury has been a gruelling job for him and I expect he’ll now be looking forward to returning to reading, writing and lecturing. He has an enormous ability to think in a deep and profound way and is able to bring things to light thoughtfully and effectively – a quality which I think people will miss and he will certainly not want to get in the way of whoever succeeds him.”


Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Rev Alan Harper

"Archbishop Rowan Williams is held in high affection across the Anglican Communion and, on behalf of the Church of Ireland, I offer him prayerful good wishes as he decides to step down from the hugely demanding role as Archbishop of Canterbury to take up his new responsibilities – and enter a new phase of his life – as Master of Magdelene College, Cambridge at the end of this year. While the Churches of the Anglican Communion will feel a considerable sense of loss when he departs, as an intellectual, a Christian thinker and a poet, he will bring a rich offering of gifts to this academic position. Happily, in returning to the academic sphere, Archbishop Rowan will continue to be able to contribute extensively to the intellectual life of the Communion for years to come.

"The Anglican Communion has faced many deep and complex challenges over the past number of years and Rowan has sought to hold people together in unity consistently, doubtless at some real personal cost. He has brought depth of thinking, humility and sincerity to his leadership which we have valued immensely."


Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols

“In the last three years I have grown to appreciate more and more the fine qualities of Archbishop Rowan: his kindness, his sharp intellect, his dedication to striving for harmony between peoples, especially within the Christian family, his courage and his friendship. These will be much missed when he steps down from his demanding office in December. I will miss him.

“I thank him for all the service he has given, recalling particularly his warm welcome to Pope Benedict at Lambeth Palace, a visit reciprocated with similar joy just last week.

“I now look forward to nine months of continuing work together.”


The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev David Chillingworth

“I heard with great regret the news that Archbishop Rowan Williams is stepping down. In the depth of his spirituality and the richness of his intellect, he has been an inspirational figure. Those gifts have enabled him to be a positive influence in society far beyond the boundaries of the Church.

“Archbishop Rowan’s time as Archbishop of Canterbury has been marked by great difficulty. To be the person who is called to foster and to embody unity will always be a costly ministry. He has fulfilled that ministry with a wonderful grace and personal warmth.

“In the Scottish Episcopal Church, we are grateful for times when he has visited and enriched our life. On a personal level, I shall miss his friendship and support and wish Rowan and Jane many years of happy and fulfilling ministry.”


General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, Bishop Angaelos

While I received the news of the stepping down of the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury with great sadness, I am confident of the spirituality, wisdom, integrity and careful consideration that must drive such a decision.

Through his ten years at Lambeth Palace, Archbishop Rowan has sought to deepen and strengthen relations within the Christian family around the world and has always been mindful of the deep and historic relationship between the Anglican Communion and the Coptic Orthodox Church, and at a wider level, with the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches internationally. We have also seen his great interest in and representation of Christians in the Middle East, as exemplified in the House of Lords Debate on the 9th December 2011. In the Archbishop we have also seen constant and faithful efforts aimed at holding together the Anglican Communion through what has been a very challenging time.

I will always hold very fond memories of the Archbishop’s visits to our Coptic Orthodox Church Centre, and the many ways in which we have worked together during the past ten years. I am also grateful for the numerous visits that His Grace has made to His Holiness Pope Shenouda III in Egypt.

In praying for Archbishop Rowan, whom I also consider a friend, I look forward to our continued co-operation in these coming months and beyond. As president of The Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches, I express our appreciation for the relationship we have had over these past years and assure him of our continued prayers.


Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell

“Rowan Williams is a remarkable man. He has held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury through demanding years and he has given so much of himself as he has led us. On behalf of the whole Church Army family I pay tribute to Rowan and thank him for his leadership, his compassion and his commitment to mission.

“I said in General Synod that the job of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most difficult job in the history of the world, and in Rowan Williams the Church has had a good man of integrity and prayer. He has been loving and listening to those who gave him a hard time. Rowan appointed me as the youngest ever member of the Archbishops' Council in 2004 and then commissioned me as the CEO of Church Army in 2006. He has been a friend who has constantly encouraged me. Most recently it was a privilege to join him in the Holy Land for a retreat. I wish him, Jane and their children every blessing in the years to come.”


General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Steve Clifford

“The Evangelical Alliance is sad to hear of Rowan Williams’ departure after 10 years of leading the Anglican Communion. It is with great respect that we celebrate a man who has faced criticism throughout his tenure with grace and composure, despite what has often been a pressured and challenging job. We will also remember him for his sharp mind, pastoral care, and commitment to the Church.

"With the government determined to push through legislation redefining marriage, his successor will enter the role during a challenging time for Christians in the UK and must be prepared to engage in debate with the government on issues of public concern. This makes the appointment of deep significance, not only for the Anglican Church, but for the nation. We look forward to a successor with whom we can stand united in the years to come.”


Christian Aid Director Loretta Minghella

"Archbishop Rowan has played an important role in debates around international development, ensuring that the voices of those in poverty are brought to the attention of policy makers both here and abroad.

"As leader of one of Christian Aid's sponsoring churches, he has been a source of inspiration and support, both to the organisation as a whole and to me personally, encouraging us to be clear and confident about the theological underpinnings of our work and always to search for the best ways to be effective on the ground.

"We have been particularly grateful for the way he has publicly highlighted important systemic issues - from climate change to economic justice - which must be addressed if our relationships with each other and with future generations are to reflect the will of God. We will miss him very much."


Christian Concern Chief Executive and General Synod member Andrea Williams

“There are many issues confronting our nation at the moment, which have raised the question of the place of Christian faith in British society. This is, therefore, a crucial time for the established Church in this country to provide leadership, clarity and direction as many people want.

“The resignation of Archbishop Rowan provides an opportunity for the Church of England to appoint someone who can provide these much needed qualities.

“For too long the Church’s voice has been muddled, indecisive and confusing to the public on the critical issues of our time, especially the protection of life, the redefining of marriage and the place of Jesus Christ in the public square. Our country needs a Church leader who will contend for biblical truth in every area of life, commend Jesus Christ as foundational to addressing these many issues, providing direction for our society and a point of unity for the Anglican Church both here and abroad.

“The Church must also listen to its members and even invite them to decide who it is they want to lead them after the departure of Rowan Williams."


General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr Olav Fykse Tveit

"We are thankful for the leadership he has provided and will continue to provide to the church and the ecumenical movement in his role as Archbishop of Canterbury. His strong commitment to the unity of the church and the common work for justice and peace remains steadfast and part of his ongoing ministry. We wish him well in the next phase of his ministry.”

Tveit went on to say, “The archbishop is a prolific author, public intellectual, and articulate spokesperson for matters related to the unity of a living and relevant faith. Rowan Williams’ sphere of contribution and influence on moral, ethical and social issues is expansive.”

“We at the WCC are grateful for his recent visit to the Ecumenical Centre; it was an inspiring time to strengthen ongoing relationships and explore new possibilities,"


Founder and Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Tony Blair

“The announcement that Archbishop Rowan Williams is stepping down later this year spells the end of an outstanding period of leadership and service to the Anglican Communion, and to this country, by an Archbishop of Canterbury. He brought to the office a vision, an intellectual integrity, an openness to all, and a deep spirituality that has weathered the trials and challenges through which the Church of England has been passing. Lambeth Palace as his residence has been home to all faiths and his engagement with the secular world has been gifted by his philosophical insights, theological wisdom and engaging dialogue. I have been particularly grateful for his support for my Faith Foundation and for our young Faiths Act Fellows who have enjoyed his hospitality. My hope is that his voice and insights will continue to grace our religious life and society as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, in the years to come.”