After key meetings this week, The Church of England said Friday it will not comment on possible candidates for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, saying the process is confidential.

The 16 members of the Crown Nominations Commission met this week to decide who to recommend for the position.

The Church noted there had been "much speculation about possible candidates and the likely timing of an announcement of the name" of the nominee.

"Previous official briefings have indicated that an announcement is expected during the autumn and that remains the case; the work of the Commission continues," the Church said in a statement. "There will be no comment on any speculation about candidate or about the CNC's deliberations."

The current Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, will remain in office until the end of December. Rev. Williams will step down to become the Master of Magdalene College in Cambridge, England.

The Church urged people to pray for the CNC this week as it met.