Lambeth Palace looks like it could star in a BBC drama about angry bishops and plague victims. The walls are made of ancient stone, and the gardens are so old they have their own Wikipedia page. But here’s the funny part: the current Archbishop, Justin Welby, technically lives in a modest flat inside the palace. That’s right—he’s got a two-bedroom apartment with a view of the Thames, while the rest of the building is for meetings, a library, and a chapel that feels like it’s seen some serious prayer action.
Imagine hosting a tea party in a 13th-century crypt and then retiring to your IKEA sofa. That’s the vibe. The Archbishop doesn’t own the place; it belongs to the Church of England, so he’s basically renting a room in the world’s most glorified Airbnb. He probably doesn’t even get to pick the wallpaper.
But Wait—There’s a Second Pad!
Lambeth Palace is the main address, but the Archbishop also has a country escape. It’s called Old Palace, Canterbury, and it’s literally next door to Canterbury Cathedral. You know, the place where Thomas Becket got dramatically murdered? Yeah, that one. The Old Palace is a Victorian-era mansion built on medieval ruins, and it’s where the Archbishop chills out after a long week of arguing about theology and attending royal weddings.
Here’s the twist: he doesn’t actually sleep there most of the time. The Old Palace is mostly used for fancy retreats and guest visits. It’s like having a beach house you never actually beach at, except this one comes with a chapel and a garden that’s been tended by monks for a thousand years. Talk about curb appeal.
Celebration for first woman to lead Church of England in 1400 years
And let’s not forget the commute. Lambeth to Canterbury is about 60 miles. That’s a solid hour-and-a-half drive in traffic, even with a driver. The Archbishop doesn’t take the Tube, by the way—he has a car, but it’s probably not a gold-plated Rolls-Royce. More like a sensible hybrid that gets him to meetings about social justice without offending the planet.
