By Eniola Amadu
The Church of England has appointed Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold the position in its 1,400-year history.
Her appointment, formally approved by King Charles and announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, marks a significant moment for the Anglican Communion but has already drawn criticism from conservative factions, particularly in Africa.
Mullally, 63, currently the Bishop of London, will serve as both the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which counts more than 85 million members.
She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned last November following criticism over the handling of child abuse scandals within the Church.
Speaking at Canterbury Cathedral after her appointment, Mullally pledged to strengthen safeguarding measures and rebuild trust. “My commitment will be to ensure that we continue to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable, and foster a culture of safety and well-being for all,” she said.
She also condemned antisemitism, following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue the previous day, and spoke of the challenges facing both church and society in an era marked by division and uncertainty.
Her appointment has been welcomed in many quarters but has faced resistance from conservative Anglican leaders.
GAFCON, a global coalition of Anglican churches, said the decision showed that the English Church had “relinquished its authority to lead.”
Opposition centres largely on disagreements over women’s ordination and same-sex blessings, both of which Mullally has supported during her career.
A former nurse and England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s, Mullally was ordained in 2002 and became one of the first female bishops in 2015.
She has described strong parallels between her nursing background and her priestly vocation, emphasising compassion and support for people at difficult times in their lives.
Linda Woodhead, professor of theology at King’s College London, said Mullally’s leadership style was well suited to the current moment.
“Her emphasis on unity, gentleness and strength is exactly what the Church, and nation, needs right now,” she noted.
Mullally, who is married with two adult children, inherits responsibility for guiding the Anglican Communion through deep theological and cultural divides, particularly between liberal Western churches and more conservative provinces in Africa and Asia.
