As Archbishop of York for the past four years, Stephen Cottrell has been the Church of England’s second-in-command. But in less than a fortnight he will take temporary charge, in place of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby,

The Archbishop of York will tell worshippers to put the needs of victims of abuse and exploitation first in a Christmas Day sermon, despite calls for his own resignation.

Stephen Cottrell apologised for not acting sooner in the case of disgraced priest David Tudor and has been criticised for letting him stay in post despite accusations of sexual abuse