The
Archbishop of Canterbury is the "Primate of All England" (the "first bishop" of England), effectively serving as the head of the established
Church of England and, symbolically, of the worldwide
Anglican Communion. From the 6th century until the 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were in
full communion with the
Bishop of Rome, the
Pope. During the
English Reformation the church broke away from the authority of the Pope, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since then the archbishops have been outside of the succession of the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy and have led the independent national church.