For the first time in more than 1,400 years, a woman has been appointed by the Church of England as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
According to the announcement on Friday, Bishop Sarah Mullally will serve as the 106th holder of the office and take on the role of spiritual leader for about 85 million Anglicans across the world.
Mullally, 63, who has been Bishop of London since 2018, succeeds Justin Welby, who stepped down last November following a report criticising his handling of historic sexual abuse allegations linked to Christian summer camps.
Before entering the church leadership, Mullally worked as a cancer nurse and went on to become England’s chief nursing officer. A strong advocate for women’s rights within the church, she has long been seen as a leading voice for reform.
Her elevation was anticipated by some, as two other women were also on the shortlist of potential candidates. Still, her appointment signals a landmark moment in Anglican history — one that may also test unity across the worldwide communion, where some regions maintain more conservative positions than the Church of England.
Welby’s decade-long tenure was marked by historic public occasions, including the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III. He also spoke out on polarising political debates such as immigration.
While never accused of abuse himself, Welby’s career was ultimately undone by the fallout from the sex-abuse crisis, which has also shaken the Roman Catholic Church. He leaves behind a denomination wrestling with disputes over same-sex marriage, credibility issues around safeguarding, and declining attendance in an increasingly secular Britain.
Mullally now inherits those challenges. Restoring trust in the church’s protection of children and navigating internal divisions over doctrine and marriage are likely to be among her first priorities. She must also contend with a fractured Anglican Communion, where conservative leaders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have openly resisted the authority traditionally associated with the archbishop of Canterbury.
