A brief biography of the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

• The Most Reverend Rowan Williams was born in 1950, and educated at Dynevor secondary school, Swansea, then Christ's college, Cambridge, where he read theology.

• He studied for the priesthood and lectured at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield from 1975 to 1977.

• From 1977 to 1980 Rowan Williams was a tutor at Westcott House. He was a lecturer in divinity in Cambridge University between 1980 and 1986, and Dean and Chaplain of Clare College between 1984 and 1986. From 1980 to 1983 he also worked as honorary curate in the parish of Chesterton St George, Ely.

• In 1986, he was made a Canon Residentiary of Christ Church, Oxford and Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford.

• In December 1991, Rowan Williams was elected Bishop of Monmouth, and Archbishop of Wales in 1999.

• His many publications include: The Wound of Knowledge (1979), Resurrection (1982), The Truce of God (1983), Beginning Now; Peacemaking theology (1984), Arius, heresy and tradition (1987), Teresa of Avila (1991), Open to Judgement (1994) and After Silent Centuries (1994).

• He has recently edited The Making of Orthodoxy (1989) and co-edited Love's Redeeming Work (2001).

• He is married to Jane, who teaches at Trinity College, Bristol. They have a son and a daughter.

• Rowan Williams's interests include music, fiction and languages.