The position of the Archbishop of Canterbury holds significant historical and spiritual weight within the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion. This article explores whether the Archbishop serves as God's physical mouthpiece, actively guiding his church in contemporary times.

The controversy surrounding the Archbishop's resignation stems from the Makin Report, an independent review that scrutinised the Church of England's handling of abuse allegations. The report specifically criticised Welby for his failure to act decisively in reporting the abuses.