From the 6th century to the 16th century, the archbishops of Canterbury were in
full communion with the
bishops of Rome, the
popes. Eighteen such pre-
Reformation archbishops have been
canonised by the
Catholic Church. During the
English Reformation, the English Church broke away from the authority of the pope, at first temporarily, later permanently, Today the archbishop has four main roles: • To be
diocesan bishop of the
Diocese of Canterbury, which covers the east of the County of
Kent and the extreme north-east of
Surrey. Founded by
Augustine of Canterbury in 597, it is the oldest
bishopric in the English church. The main duties of this role are delegated to the suffragan
bishop of Dover (who in this capacity is called the "bishop in Canterbury"). • To be
metropolitan bishop of the
Province of Canterbury, encompassing 30 dioceses in the southern two-thirds of England. The remaining 14 dioceses in the north of England fall within the
Province of York, under the authority of the
archbishop of York. Four dioceses in
Wales were under the Province of Canterbury until they were transferred to the dis-established
Church in Wales in 1920. • As "Primate of All England", to be the chief religious figure in the Church of England (senior to the archbishop of York, who is styled the "Primate of England"). The
British monarch is the
supreme governor of the Church of England. • As symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop is recognised as
primus inter pares ("first among equals") of all
Anglican primates. ==Heraldry==