Sarah Mullally, a former nurse and Bishop of London breaks 1,400-year precedent, pledging to heal divisions and restore trust in the Church of England.
In a landmark moment for the Church of England, Sarah Mullally has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman in the institution’s 1,400-year history to lead the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Mullally, 63, who previously served as Bishop of London, succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned last year following criticism over the church’s handling of a child abuse scandal. Her appointment makes her the spiritual leader of more than 85 million Anglicans globally.
Before entering the clergy, Mullally built a distinguished career in healthcare, serving as England’s Chief Nursing Officer. “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and others that has motivated me since I first came to faith,” she said after her appointment was announced Friday.
Her elevation comes at a pivotal moment for the Church, which is confronting dwindling attendance, internal divisions over social issues, and the lingering fallout from historic safeguarding failures. “Our history of safeguarding failures has left the legacy of deep harm and mistrust,” Mullally said. “My commitment will be to continue listening to survivors and fostering a culture of safety and wellbeing.”
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Mullally’s rise was made possible by reforms championed under Welby, who a decade ago authorized the consecration of female bishops. Yet her appointment has exposed rifts within the global Anglican Communion, particularly among more conservative factions in Africa and Asia. The GAFCON alliance of traditionalist Anglican churches said the move showed “Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead.”
Globally, around three-quarters of Anglicans now live outside Britain, shifting the faith’s center of gravity toward the Global South, where opposition to women’s ordination and same-sex blessings remains strong.
Mullally has played a leading role in the Church’s dialogue on marriage and sexuality, supporting the move to bless gay couples — a stance that has drawn both praise and criticism.
Her selection followed deliberations by the Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by Jonathan Evans, the former head of MI5. King Charles III, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, formally confirmed the appointment.
Mullally will be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony in March at Canterbury Cathedral — nearly 1,430 years after Saint Augustine first took up the post in 597.
