Cosmo Lang

The Right Reverend and the Right Honourable William Cosmo Gordon Lang, 1st Baron Lang of Lamberth was an Anglican clergyman of the early twentieth century.

Early in his priestly career he rose to prominence quickly, becoming Archbishop of York within eighteen years of his consecration--climbing the ranks with a speed that is unheard of in the modern era. As Archbishop of York, Lang became one of the Lords Spiritual and was seated in the House of Lords, where he spoke out in favor of or against a wide variety of issues much more adamantly than clergymen typically did. Lang took positions that were controversial, both theologically and politically, and this eroded the respect and admiration he had previously enjoyed.

Nonetheless, Lang was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1928, in which position he continued to be uncommonly outspoken. As Archbishop for the early years of World War II, he supported the appeasement policy of the Chamberlain Government. He did preach against the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazi Party and urged his flock to be prepared to give aid and comfort to distressed European Jews as opportunities to do so presented themselves.

Lang retired as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1942 but remained active politically. He was created Lord Lang of Lambert and participated in debates in the House of Lords for the rest of his life. In December 1945 he died suddenly of heart failure.

Cosmo Lang in The War That Came Early
Cosmo Lang presided at the funeral of Winston Churchill in the summer of 1940. His eulogy was dull and passionless.