Sarah Mullally, whose journey to Christian ministry followed a distinguished nursing career, has been appointed the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to hold the role in its 1,400-year history.
She will serve as the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
Mullally, 63, has been Bishop of London since 2018, the Church of England’s third-highest-ranking bishop after the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Before ordination, she worked as a nurse in London hospitals and later became Chief Nursing Officer for England.
“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,” Mullally said following the announcement on Friday.
“At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply, to people and to God’s gentle prompting, to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.”
Mullally steps into the role amid a period of challenge for the Church, tasked with bridging divides between conservative and liberal factions and rebuilding trust following a child abuse cover-up scandal.
Former Archbishop Justin Welby resigned in 2024 after failing to report John Smyth, who abused dozens of boys at Christian camps in the 1970s and 1980s.
An independent report revealed that by 2013 the Church of England “knew, at the highest level” about Smyth’s abuse, including Welby, who had become archbishop that year. Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch described Welby’s resignation as “historic and without exact precedent in the 1,427-year history of Archbishops of Canterbury,” noting no previous archbishop had stepped down over negligence in sexual abuse cases.
Mullally addressed the Church’s troubled past, stating, “Our history of safeguarding failures has left the legacy of deep harm and mistrust. As archbishop, my commitment will be to ensure that we continue to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable and foster a culture of safety and wellbeing for all.”
Her historic elevation was made possible by reforms under Welby, who permitted women to become bishops a decade ago.
While insiders regard Mullally as a steady hand in challenging times, her appointment has drawn criticism from more conservative factions.
“Today’s appointment makes it clearer than ever before that Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead,” said GAFCON, a coalition of Anglican churches in Africa and Asia.
Globally, the Anglican faith is increasingly concentrated outside Britain, with around three-quarters of Anglicans living in former colonies.
This shift has intensified tension between the church’s conservative global south and the more liberal West.
The Vatican offered measured congratulations. Cardinal Kurt Koch, who heads the department for promoting Christian unity, noted that the Anglican and Catholic churches “have grown greatly in mutual understanding and affection,” despite “occasional tensions” over issues such as women in ministry—a point of disagreement that has hindered efforts at closer unity.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Mullally will also lead an institution grappling with declining relevance in a secular society. She will continue to oversee discussions on marriage and sexuality, supporting moves to allow ministers to bless same-sex couples.
Known for strong administrative skills, she modernized her London diocese and played a key role in the Church’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her new responsibilities include addressing falling attendance, connecting with younger generations, and navigating financial challenges.
The Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by former MI5 head Jonathan Evans, selects candidates for archbishop.
The Prime Minister approves the commission’s choice, but King Charles, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, formally appoints the archbishop, a tradition dating back to King Henry VIII. King Charles congratulated Mullally following her selection.
In July, Evans emphasized the need for diversity in candidates, stating, “there was a desire for somebody who can give genuine spiritual leadership and direction to the church, and who can speak authoritatively and graciously with a Christian voice into the affairs of the nation.”
Announcing Mullally’s appointment, Evans thanked the public for participating in a consultation on the Church’s future.
“I shall be praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months,” he said.
Mullally will be formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March, becoming the 106th archbishop since Saint Augustine arrived in Kent from Rome in 597.
