Letters Patent - Congé d'élire for the See of Canterbury [2025-11-17]

Letters Patent - Congé d'élire for the See of Canterbury [2025-11-17]

Archbishops and Bishops

Letters Patent of King Charles III giving the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral his license to elect a new archbishop following the resignation of the Most Rev. Justin Welby.

King Charles III

FOI request

2025-11-17

T. Onslow

Diocese of Canterbury

CHARLES THE THIRD by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories King Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To Our trusty and well beloved the College of Canons of Our Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ in Canterbury Greeting Supplication having been humbly made to Us on your part that whereas the See of Canterbury is now void and destitute of the solace of a Pastor by the resignation of Our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor the Most Reverend Justin Portal Welby Master of Arts lately Archbishop thereof We would be graciously pleased to grant you Our fundatorial leave and licence to elect another Archbishop and Pastor of the said See We being favourably inclined to your prayers in this behalf have thought fit by virtue of these Presents to grant you such leave and licence Requiring and Commanding you by the faith and allegiance by which you stand bound to Us that you elect a such person for your Archbishop and Pastor as may be devoted to God and useful and faithful to Us and Our Kingdom In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster the seventeenth day of November in the fourth year of Our Reign

BY WARRANT UNDER THE KING'S SIGN MANUAL

FARRAR

Sign Manual Warrant

Black and white Royal Arms at the top.

Printed in Times New Roman.

Royal name is capitalized and in boldface and begins with an enlarged 'C' that might be a misaligned drop cap.

Cathedral name is in boldface.