Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is to step down from his position in order to become Master of Magdalene College from January next year, it was announced today.

The 61-year-old will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury until December 2012. In the meantime, the Crown Nominations Commission must select his successor. The current favourite is the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

In a statement published on his website this morning Dr. Williams said, "It has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision.

"During the time remaining there is much to do, and I ask your prayers and support in this period and beyond."

He also emphasised that "it is a job of immense demands" and that he "would like the successor that God would like".

Williams could have remained in his position as the Archbishop of Canterbury for a further eight years, and his decision to return to academia (Williams read Theology at Christ's College) has led many to sepculate on the difficulty of his job at a time when the Anglican congregation is thought by some to be on the edge of fragmentation.