Four frontrunners to succeed Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury after ‘horrific’ scandal sparks resignation

Four bishops have emerged as frontrunners to succeed Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury following his scandal-ridden resignation on Tuesday.

Welby had faced days of mounting pressure in the wake of a damning report into abuse cover-ups in the Church of England – with Christian summer camp leader John Smyth at the centre of the furore.

Smyth had sexually, psychologically and physically abused some 30 boys and young men in the United Kingdom and 85 in Zimbabwe and South Africa over a five-decade span.

And with Welby’s resignation “in the best interests of the Church” complete, speculation is mounting as to who will succeed him.

Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich

Usher has served as the CoE’s lead environment bishop – and has called for a wider uptake of vegetarian food to meet Net Zero goals.

He is seen as a progressive candidate, who focuses on social justice.

Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford

Dr Francis-Dehqani is the CoE’s first Persian-born bishop and is an Iranian refugee.

She is one of the Church’s loudest voices on migration, multiculturalism and diversity – and has been openly critical of Welby’s approach to managing the CoE.

MORE ON THE ARCHBISHOP:

• Reverend demands for ‘more people to be questioned’ after Justin Welby resignation: ‘Great damage has been done’
• King Charles held talks with Archbishop of Canterbury ahead of his resignation over sex abuse scandal
• Justin Welby ‘leaves sad legacy’: Archbishop lambasted over ‘intense period’ for Church

Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester

Snow was Justin Welby’s own pick to succeed him in the role – and has worked to foster relationships between various religious communities in Britain.

Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells

Beasley is both a bishop and an epidemiologist, having specialised in infectious diseases in children in the world’s poorest countries.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, Beasley gave health guidance to religious communities.

The Crown Nominations Commission will now decide – potentially from these four – who will become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

The commission comprises 16 senior clergy and lay people – and will submit the name of one preferred candidate and one second-choice candidate to the Prime Minister.

Sir Keir Starmer is thus constitutionally responsible for bringing their appointment to the head of the Church of England – the King.