Britain has appointed Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time in the 1,400-year history of the Church of England that a woman has assumed the role. The announcement was made on Friday with the formal consent of King Charles, who serves as the Church’s supreme governor.
Mullally, 63, also becomes the ceremonial head of some 85 million Anglicans worldwide. Her appointment may deepen theological divides with more conservative branches of the church in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, where about two-thirds of Anglicans live. Reforms introduced 11 years ago made it possible for a woman to hold the office, and Mullally is now the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the female leader of one of the last British public roles historically led exclusively by men.
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A former nurse and England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s, Mullally has emphasised creating an open and transparent culture within the church that embraces difference and disagreement. “There are great commonalities between nursing and being a priest. It’s all about people, and sitting with people during the most difficult times in their lives,” she previously said.
The Church of England has been without a leader since last November, following the resignation of Justin Welby over a child abuse cover-up scandal. Mullally’s appointment not only breaks a historic gender barrier but also comes at a time when the church seeks to reaffirm its leadership and credibility both in England and across the global Anglican community.
