Sarah Mullally Becomes First Female Archbishop of Canterbury
In a historic first for the Church of England, Sarah Mullally has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion in its 1,400-year history.
Mullally, 63, will now serve as the spiritual head of more than 85 million Anglicans worldwide. She has held senior leadership roles within the church for years, most notably her 2018 appointment as Bishop of London, the third-highest clerical position in the Church of England.
Before entering ministry, Mullally had a distinguished career in healthcare. She trained as a nurse in London hospitals before rising to become England’s Chief Nursing Officer.
Reflecting on her appointment, she 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.”
She added that both in nursing and in ministry, she has sought to “listen deeply — to people and to God’s gentle prompting — to bring people together to find hope and healing.”
Mullally has also been a prominent voice in church reform. She previously led the Church of England’s national discussions on marriage and sexuality and backed efforts to allow clergy to bless same-sex couples.
Known for her administrative skill and forward-thinking approach, she helped modernize church structures in London and played a key role in coordinating the church’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her historic rise was made possible after reforms introduced under former Archbishop Justin Welby, who opened the way for women to be consecrated as bishops nearly a decade ago.
