Sarah Mullally becomes the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion in 1,400 years
Appointment sparks backlash from conservative Anglican leaders, especially in Africa
Mullally vows to address safeguarding scandals and rising antisemitism
Former nurse and Bishop of London since 2018 to be installed in March 2026
CANTERBURY, England, Oct 3 – The Church of England has appointed Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time in history that a woman will serve as the spiritual head of Anglican Christianity worldwide.
Mullally, 63, currently Bishop of London and a former Chief Nursing Officer for England, will succeed Justin Welby in March 2026. Her appointment was confirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office and formally approved by King Charles, the Church’s supreme governor.
While many in Britain welcomed the move as historic and progressive, it immediately drew sharp criticism from conservative Anglican leaders abroad, particularly in Africa. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda and chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, warned that Mullally’s leadership would not unify the Communion. A Nigerian bishop described the decision as “dangerous,” insisting women should not lead men.
Mullally has supported blessings for same-sex couples, a deeply divisive issue within the global Anglican Communion, where homosexuality remains illegal in several countries. She has also spoken out on safeguarding failures after abuse scandals and condemned rising antisemitism, including a synagogue attack in Manchester that killed two men.
In her address at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, Mullally pledged to help ministries across traditions flourish. She acknowledged the Church’s ongoing struggles over same-sex relationships, saying, “It may not be resolved quickly.”
Before entering ministry, Mullally built a distinguished career in healthcare, rising to become England’s top nurse. She was ordained in 2002, consecrated as one of the first female bishops in 2015, and appointed Bishop of London in 2018. Married with two adult children, she has often drawn parallels between nursing and ministry, describing both as being about “sitting with people during the most difficult times in their lives.”
Mixed Reactions Worldwide
Her appointment underscores divisions within the Anglican Communion, which includes churches in Africa and Asia that often reject reforms embraced in England. The Vatican, while barring women from priesthood, congratulated Mullally and acknowledged the “considerable challenges” ahead.
Church historian Linda Woodhead of King’s College London praised Mullally’s leadership style: “Her emphasis on unity, gentleness, and strength is exactly what the Church, and the nation, needs right now.”
As Archbishop, Mullally will sit in the House of Lords and play a central role in shaping the Church’s stance on key moral and political debates, from safeguarding and antisemitism to assisted dying legislation, which she strongly opposes.
Reflecting on her new role, she acknowledged the weight of expectation: “This is an age that craves certainty and tribalism, yet we must stand together as communities of faith.”
