Sarah Mullally appointed first female Archbishop of Canterbury in historic moment for Church of England

Sarah Mullally has been named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to lead the Church of England in its 1,400-year existence.

Mullally, 63, who has served as Bishop of London since 2018, will now become the spiritual head of the global Anglican Communion, representing more than 85 million members worldwide. Her appointment marks a watershed moment for the church as it navigates deep divisions and the challenge of reconnecting with a more secular society.

Before entering ministry, Mullally built a distinguished career in healthcare, serving as Chief Nursing Officer for England after years as a frontline nurse. Reflecting on her journey, 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 her leadership would focus on listening, healing, and uniting a church often torn between its conservative and liberal wings.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Justin Welby, who stepped down last year amid fierce criticism of his handling of historic child abuse allegations linked to evangelical leader John Smyth. An independent report concluded that by 2013 the Church “knew, at the highest level” about Smyth’s abuse — including Welby, who had been archbishop at the time.

Welby’s resignation was described by church historian Diarmaid MacCulloch as “historic and without precedent,” as no previous Archbishop of Canterbury had resigned under such circumstances.

Mullally now steps into the role at a time of both crisis and opportunity, carrying the weight of history while tasked with restoring trust and renewing faith in an institution facing one of its most difficult chapters.