History was made today as Dame Sarah Mullally was named the first woman to lead the Church of England and, by extension, the Anglican Communion across the world. Her appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury breaks nearly five centuries of tradition, marking a moment described by many as transformative for both the Church and society at large. Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England.
Mullally, 63, currently the Bishop of London, succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned earlier this year amid a safeguarding scandal that shook the institution. A former midwife and England’s youngest-ever Chief Nursing Officer before entering ordained ministry, she brings with her a background that combines public service, healthcare, and theological leadership.
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Speaking at Canterbury Cathedral following the announcement, Mullally paid tribute to the women who paved the way before her. “I stand here because of the faith and perseverance of those who came before me,” she said. Addressing both the challenges and opportunities ahead, she spoke of the need for the Church to offer a “quieter and stronger hope in an age that craves certainty and tribalism.”
She also acknowledged the difficulties she will face. “It will not be easy,” she said, referencing the “misuse of power” that has eroded trust within the Church. “But I have already seen a cultural shift and I believe the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love.”
In her first remarks, Mullally directly addressed recent events, including the deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester. “As a Church, we have a responsibility to stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms,” she declared. “Hatred and racism cannot tear us apart.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the appointment, calling the Church of England “a profound part of our national fabric” and wishing her every success in her new role. King Charles III also sent congratulations, affirming her appointment to a position that symbolically ranks just below his own as Supreme Governor of the Church.
Mullally takes on the leadership of a global communion of some 85 million Anglicans in more than 165 countries. While the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, the role is described as “first among equals,” serving as a unifying figure rather than exercising direct authority over independent national churches.
Lord Evans of Weardale, chair of the Crown Nominations Commission, which selected her, said he would be “praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry.”
Dame Sarah Mullally will be formally confirmed as Archbishop in January, followed by a grand enthronement service. Her appointment signals not only a historic milestone but also a profound shift in the identity of the Church of England as it seeks to rebuild trust and remain relevant in a time of global uncertainty.
