By Obinna Uballa
Sarah Mullally, in a landmark moment for the Church of England, has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman in its 1,400-year history to hold the role of spiritual leader to 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
Mullally, 63, who has served as Bishop of London since 2018, will formally take office in March 2026 as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Her appointment follows a year-long vacancy after Justin Welby resigned in November 2024 amid criticism over his handling of historic child abuse cases, CNN reported on Friday.
Reflecting on her appointment, Mullally said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager. At every stage of that journey, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to bring people together to find hope and healing.”
Before ordination, Mullally worked as a nurse and later became England’s Chief Nursing Officer. Her career has been marked by service, reform, and leadership. She has been at the forefront of debates on marriage and sexuality, backed blessings for same-sex couples, and led the Church of England’s Covid-19 response.
Her rise to the highest Anglican office was made possible by reforms under Welby a decade ago, which opened the way for women to be consecrated as bishops.
Analysts say Mullally inherits a church grappling with secularisation, declining congregations, and financial pressures, alongside the challenge of restoring public trust after abuse scandals. She will be expected to give authoritative spiritual leadership, guide the church on divisive issues, and represent it at major state and royal occasions.
The Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by former MI5 chief Jonathan Evans, selected Mullally after pledging to diversify the church’s leadership. Evans said there was a desire for someone who could “speak authoritatively and graciously with a Christian voice into the affairs of the nation.”
Formally appointed by King Charles, Mullally will succeed a line of archbishops dating back to Saint Augustine in 597. She will be installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026, marking the beginning of a new era for the Church of England.
