Legal Definitions - archbishop

Definition: An archbishop is a church official who has authority over all religious matters within a province. In the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking archbishop, but the Archbishop of York has supreme authority in the province of York. Both are appointed for life by the monarch of England, who is also the head of the Church of England, on the advice of the Prime Minister. They are also members of the House of Lords.

Example: The Archbishop of Canterbury is responsible for overseeing the Church of England's activities in the province of Canterbury, which includes most of southern England. He is also the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes churches in more than 165 countries.

Explanation: This example illustrates how an archbishop has authority over all religious matters within a specific province. The Archbishop of Canterbury is responsible for overseeing the Church of England's activities in the province of Canterbury, which includes most of southern England. He is also the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes churches in more than 165 countries.