Æthelred (archbishop of Canterbury)

Æthelred (died 1038) was an Anglo-Saxon cleric who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1013 to 1038. He was likely a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury before his elevation to the archbishopric.

Æthelred's archiepiscopate coincided with a turbulent period in English history, marked by renewed Viking incursions and political instability. He succeeded Archbishop Lyfing, who had been driven out by the Danes. Æthelred's appointment occurred during the reign of King Æthelred the Unready (also spelled Ethelred), though he outlived that monarch and served under Cnut the Great.

Little is definitively known about Æthelred's activities as archbishop. Surviving charters and ecclesiastical documents suggest he was involved in land transactions and the administration of the church. He likely played a role in maintaining religious life and attempting to navigate the complex political landscape of the time. He is generally considered to have been a capable administrator.

Æthelred's tenure as archbishop was notably long, spanning twenty-five years. He died in 1038 and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. He was succeeded by Eadsige.