Leaving Lambeth

This most cerebral of men, while ideally suited to take over as Master of Magdalene, was never really built for the hurly-burly that comes with the job of being Archbishop of Canterbury and has, at times, struggled badly during his 10-year tenure.

Of course, it is true that Dr Williams has had his moments. The Archbishop – who has announced that he is to step down from his post in December – has, for example, been a doughty defender of Christians abroad. At a time when the Church and its followers are suffering severe persecution in a host of countries, Dr Williams has tried hard to draw attention to their plight, even journeying to Zimbabwe to confront its dictator, Robert Mugabe.

On the home front, however, he has frequently failed to provide the same sort of strong moral lead. Of course, it is true that the rows over homosexuality and women bishops, which are currently tearing the Church apart, would have been a test of patience and character for anyone occupying Lambeth Palace. Yet, in trying to keep both sides of the debate happy, Dr Williams has satisfied neither and too often given the impression that he would simply rather be somewhere else.

The problem of this unfinished business is one reason why the Church of England must think carefully about the character of Dr Williams’s successor. Solving these seemingly intractable problems will demand not only a man of strong principles but also great charisma.

Indeed, these qualities, allied with the common touch, will also be in demand for what is perhaps the Church’s most important task of all: convincing non-Anglicans that the Church is not consumed by its own internal debates and making it far more relevant to the lives of people of all faiths and none. And, for whoever follows Dr Williams, that really will be a challenge.