"It would be incredibly exciting if the new Archbishop were a woman. As dean, he will place the new Archbishop in their seat of authority during a formal service expected in the coming months. The Archbishop's global role - shaped by the British Empire's spread of Christianity to its onetime colonies - has complicated efforts to unify the Church in modern times. MONARCHY HAS HISTORIC ROLE IN ARCHBISHOP APPOINTMENTReflecting the CoE's status as England's established church, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office will announce the decision on Friday with the formal consent of King Charles. The commission comprised 17 voting members, including five representatives from the global Anglican Communion, three from Canterbury, and six from the CoE's governing body.