Archbishop: disestablishment of Church of England not 'the end of the world'

The Times
Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent
December 18, 2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury believes it would not be "the end of the world" if the Church of England was disestablished.

But he does not wholeheartedly back such a move, arguing that, ultimately, the advantages of establishment outweigh the disadvantages.

Dr Rowan Williams, whose previous post was as Archbishop of the disestablished Church in Wales, was asked if he recognised the case for disestablishment. He said: "The answer's yes."

The Archbishop, speaking to James Macintyre for the Christmas edition of the New Statesman, was born in south Wales and said his views were influenced by growing up in a disestablished Church. the rest