<P> The Church of England ( C of E ) is the state church of England . The Archbishop of Canterbury ( currently Justin Welby ) is the most senior cleric , although the monarch is the supreme governor . The Church of England is also the mother church of the international Anglican Communion . It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain by the third century , and to the 6th - century Gregorian mission to Kent led by Augustine of Canterbury . </P>
<P> The Church of England ( C of E ) is the state church of England . The Archbishop of Canterbury ( currently Justin Welby ) is the most senior cleric , although the monarch is the supreme governor . The Church of England is also the mother church of the international Anglican Communion . It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain by the third century , and to the 6th - century Gregorian mission to Kent led by Augustine of Canterbury . </P>
the seat of the archbishop and the head of the english church was at
the seat of the archbishop and the head of the english church was at
Canterbury
Canterbury