The meteoric rise of the Bishop of Durham is expected to be confirmed on Friday when he is officially unveiled as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Right Reverend Justin Welby, an Eton-educated former oil industry executive, will become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the 77 million strong Anglican Communion.
He said he was unable to comment on reports of the appointment as he sat on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards in London, of which he is a committee member. When asked if he was to take on the role, he replied: “I am not able to comment, only Lambeth Palace can.”