Sarah Mullally, 63, has become the first woman to be appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England, after the monarch approved her nomination.
First Archbishop of Canterbury
According to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s website, Sarah Mullally’s nomination has just been approved by the monarch. Mullally is the 106th person to hold the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. Thus, the former Bishop of London becomes the spiritual leader for 85 million Anglicans. Formally the head of the Church of England is the King, but the Archbishop of Canterbury is the church’s senior bishop and spiritual leader for the Anglican community. Mullally’s inauguration will take place in Canterbury Cathedral in March next year.
Who is Sarah Mullally?
Sarah Mullally is 63 years old. She is married and has two children. She describes herself as a feminist. She served as Bishop of London for seven years, a position she won as the first woman in history. Earlier she worked as a midwife. “I know this is a great responsibility, but I approach it with a sense of calm confidence, trusting that God will guide me, as He has always done,” Mullally wrote in a statement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in public life. “I wish her all the best and look forward to working together,” he said.
Previous Archbishop Resigned
The choice of a woman for the position could have been made possible by reforms introduced by former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Ten years ago he allowed women to be consecrated as bishops. Welby resigned in November 2024 amid allegations of neglect in handling sexual abuse of children. The position remained vacant for almost a year.
