Complete coverage on

Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, head of the 85 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion, announced Friday he will step down from his post at the end of the year.

Latest Stories

Mugabe, Archbishop of Canterbury meetupdated: Fri Mar 16 2012 10:26:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury appeals to President Mugabe to end the persecution of Anglicans. Nkepile Mabuse reports.

Occupy London group issues statement; city officials to meet with activistsupdated: Wed Nov 02 2011 16:18:00

Occupy London's "general assembly" laid out Wednesday a statement saying it is seeking "a global system that is democratic, just and sustainable."

Zimbabwean Anglicans dividedupdated: Mon Oct 10 2011 15:52:00

The archbishop of Canterbury tries to heal rifts in the Anglican church of Zimbabwe, Nkepile Mabuse reports

Anglican archbishop meets Mugabe over persecution allegationsupdated: Mon Oct 10 2011 15:52:00

Rowan Williams, the leader of the worldwide Anglican communion, sat down for a meeting with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Williams' spokesman, David Brownlie-Marshall, said Monday.

Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to allow gay and lesbian clergyupdated: Tue May 10 2011 23:10:00

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Tuesday voted to allow the ordination of openly gay and lesbian ministers.

People.com: William & Kate Have Clear Heads and Full Hearts, Says Archbishopupdated: Fri Apr 22 2011 09:29:00

Dr. Rowan Williams says the couple are approaching their wedding with sense of love and purpose

People.com: Five Things to Know About Will & Kate's Wedding Officiantupdated: Wed Dec 15 2010 16:10:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, is a poet who digs The Simpsons

Why is Pope Benedict XVI visiting Britain?updated: Thu Sep 16 2010 04:00:00

As the United Kingdom braces to receive one of the best-known and most controversial figures on the planet, Pope Benedict XVI, a question hangs over the state visit: Why is he coming?

Religious leaders hit back at Hawkingupdated: Fri Sep 03 2010 16:40:00

Religious leaders in Britain on Friday hit back at claims by leading physicist Stephen Hawking that God had no role in the creation of the universe.

Church of England takes a step toward women bishopsupdated: Mon Jul 12 2010 21:04:00

The Church of England took a small step toward allowing women to serve as bishops Monday, with its governing body voting to recommend their elevation despite warnings from traditionalists that it could split the church.

Women bishops vote threatens to split Church of Englandupdated: Sun Jul 11 2010 08:46:00

The Church of England inched towards allowing women to be bishops this weekend with a vote that traditionalists warned could split the church.

Archbishop of Canterbury slaps Episcopal Church for openly gay bishopsupdated: Fri May 28 2010 14:36:00

Rifts within the Anglican Communion could widen after the archbishop of Canterbury, who has condemned the consecration of openly gay bishops, urged a diminished role Friday for the Episcopal Church.

Anglican leader: Irish Catholic Church has lost 'all credibility'updated: Sat Apr 03 2010 15:05:00

The head of the Anglican church expressed regret Saturday for comments he made about the Irish Catholic Church, which included saying that the Irish Catholic Church has lost "all credibility" following the abuse scandal, his press office said.

Pope to visit Britain in Septemberupdated: Tue Mar 16 2010 15:09:00

Pope Benedict XVI will visit England and Scotland from September 16-19, Queen Elizabeth II announced.

Pope to meet with Anglican leader amid rising tensionupdated: Sat Nov 21 2009 01:28:00

Pope Benedict XVI is expected to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury on Saturday, the first meeting between the religious leaders since a Catholic overture to disaffected Anglicans that some commentators compared to a hostile takeover on Wall Street.

Time.com: Anglican Church Gay Row Heats Upupdated: Thu Aug 07 2008 12:15:00

Leaked letters by the Archbishop of Canterbury show he believes homosexual couples "reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage"

Time.com: Anglican Leader: Pause on Gay Bishopsupdated: Sun Aug 03 2008 20:00:00

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, struggling to hold together the troubled world Anglican family, urged church leaders gathered Sunday in England not to consecrate another gay bishop

Anglicans' bitter disputeupdated: Sat Jul 19 2008 10:57:00

The Anglican Communion is split on sexuality and women clergy. CNN's Jill Dougherty reports.

Anglicans meet amid gay bishop rowupdated: Wed Jul 16 2008 23:59:00

Controversy over gay clergy and female bishops is likely to dominate the Anglican church's once-a-decade conference, which begins Wednesday.

Time.com: An Anglican Schism: Headed for US? updated: Mon Jun 30 2008 14:00:00

A conservative resolution in Jerusalem and a court decision in Virginia suggest that that the U.S. may be a key battlefield

Time.com: Are the Anglicans About to Split?updated: Fri Jun 20 2008 13:00:00

Fears of a schism over the issue of gay priests are fueled by an ominous declaration by conservatives

Row as gay clergy 'wed' at movie churchupdated: Mon Jun 16 2008 06:43:00

A leading Christian church has been plunged into a new row about gay clergy after a marriage-style service between two male priests at a London church, local media report.

The church and gay marriageupdated: Mon Jun 16 2008 06:43:00

ITN's Krishnan Guru-Murphy reports on the controversy over how The Church of England treats gay couples.

Time.com: Gay Bishop vs. Straight Bishopupdated: Sat Jun 07 2008 16:30:00

Gene Robinson and Martyn Minns, both banned from the Anglican Community's major meeting next month, tell TIME what they plan to do this summer

Calls for archbishop to resignupdated: Mon Feb 11 2008 11:44:00

The leader of the Anglican Church has been asked to quit after comments about Sharia law. ITV's Tim Ewart reports.

Church head moves to defuse Muslim law rowupdated: Mon Feb 11 2008 11:44:00

The head of the Anglican Church has moved to defuse the row he sparked by suggesting that that some aspects of Muslim Sharia law could become part of UK law.

Archbishop 'must quit' in Sharia rowupdated: Sat Feb 09 2008 11:40:00

The head of the Anglican Church has tried to damp down controversy surrounding comments he made suggesting that some aspects of Muslim Sharia law could become part of British law.

Sharia law in Britain?updated: Sat Feb 09 2008 11:40:00

CNN's Emily Chang looks at the controversy surrounding an Archbishop's call for Sharia law to be adopted in Britain.

UK PM rejects special laws for Muslimsupdated: Fri Feb 08 2008 13:53:00

The UK's leading Christian leader has drawn fierce government criticism after he suggested that Islamic -- or Sharia -- law be used to resolve financial and domestic issues between UK Muslims.

Sharia furorupdated: Fri Feb 08 2008 13:53:00

Anglican Church's leader sparks row over sharia law. ITN's Tom Bradby reports

Time.com: Muslim Leaders Send Peace Messageupdated: Thu Oct 11 2007 08:40:00

Their letter marks the first time so many high-profile Muslims have come together to make such a public call for peace

Time.com: The Anglicans Get Ready to Rumbleupdated: Wed Sep 26 2007 13:00:00

The American bishops meet in New Orleans and solidify their stand on gay ordination against their global brethren

People.com: Diana Remembered with Loving Words and Tearsupdated: Sun Sep 02 2007 00:24:00

A somber Prince William listened reflectively as his younger brother, Harry, spoke of their mother, Diana, during Friday's noontime service to the late princess at the Guards Chapel near Buckingham Palace in London.

Rejecting gay clergy, U.S. Episcopal priests turn to Africaupdated: Thu Aug 30 2007 02:14:00

Two American priests were consecrated Thursday as Anglican bishops in Kenya, the latest in a string of conservative priests who are defecting to African churches in a dispute over gay clergy.

Time.com: Episcopalians Defy Anglican Demandupdated: Fri Jun 15 2007 15:25:00

A key Episcopal panel defied conservatives Thursday, saying that Episcopal leaders should not cede authority to overseas Anglicans who want the church to halt its march toward full acceptance of gays

Londoners mourn and rememberupdated: Mon Jul 11 2005 00:59:00

On the first Sunday after four deadly attacks in London left at least 49 people, Britons mourned the victims of the bombings as they marked the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Queen, Blair lead tsunami serviceupdated: Wed May 11 2005 05:37:00

Hundreds of bereaved families and friends of those killed in the Indian Ocean tsunami have joined Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair at a memorial service to honor those who died.

Royal newlyweds vow to be faithfulupdated: Sat Apr 09 2005 02:42:00

A solemn ceremony has blessed the wedding of the heir to the British throne Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall, at which the couple each pledged to be faithful to each other.

Time set for delayed royal weddingupdated: Tue Apr 05 2005 09:33:00

The postponed marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will be at 12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday, his office has announced.

Royal wedding moved to Saturdayupdated: Mon Apr 04 2005 07:34:00

Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles has been moved to Saturday to allow Charles to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral at the Vatican on Friday, his office said.

Royal wedding blessing on live TVupdated: Fri Mar 18 2005 10:50:00

The blessing ceremony following the civil marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will be shown live on television, the prince's spokesman has told CNN.

UK: Prince's wedding not illegalupdated: Wed Feb 23 2005 03:37:00

The British government has responded to criticism from legal experts by issuing a statement saying the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony will be lawful.

Queen not going to Charles weddingupdated: Tue Feb 22 2005 07:41:00

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the civil marriage ceremony on April 8 for her son, Prince Charles, and his long-time companion, Camilla Parker Bowles, Buckingham Palace has said.

We recommend