In a historic ceremony filled with centuries-old tradition at St Paul's Cathedral, Dame Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. This landmark appointment makes her the first female to lead the Church of England, breaking a long-standing barrier in the Anglican Communion.
A Historic Appointment for the Church of England
The 64-year-old former chief nursing officer for England, who has been serving as the Bishop of London since 2018, will now lead the world's 85 million Anglicans. Her appointment was confirmed by King Charles III, who serves as the supreme governor of the church, following nomination by a 17-member commission composed of both clerics and laypeople.
Addressing Misogyny and Safeguarding Concerns
Dame Sarah has revealed her intention to speak out against misogyny within the church and society at large. "It is fair to say that I have, both in my secular role, as well as in the Church, experienced misogyny at times," she acknowledged during the announcement of her appointment.
While she expressed gratitude for the support she has received from many men throughout her ministry, she emphasized that issues of misogyny need to be "brought into the open." She stated, "I'm conscious that being in this role, it's important for me to speak of it [misogyny], because there are some who don't necessarily have the status or power of this role, and feel more hesitant to do it."
Support from Women and Weight of Responsibility
The new archbishop has received overwhelming support from women across the country. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, she shared that she had received "hundreds and hundreds of letters of support" from women. One particularly moving letter came from an ordained woman who said the "announcement of my appointment was the first time that she felt affirmed as a priest."
Commenting on the resignation of her predecessor Justin Welby, who stepped down amid accusations that he did not do enough with information he had about a prolific abuser, Dame Sarah acknowledged the need for greater scrutiny of her own record in dealing with safeguarding in the Church. "There's a sense of the weight of office that I feel, but I've also been very conscious of the huge support that I've had from people either writing [to me] or passing me in the streets," she reflected.
Looking Forward to Her New Ministry
Dame Sarah has committed herself to "making an environment where all people can flourish and which is safer for all." She is scheduled to be formally installed as bishop of the diocese of Canterbury in March 2026, in a ceremony that will mark the beginning of her new role and public-facing ministry.
This appointment represents a significant milestone for gender equality within religious leadership and signals potential changes in how the Church of England addresses issues of discrimination and safeguarding moving forward.
