The Church of England makes history with the appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, endorsed by Charles III.
The Church of England is set to make history in January 2026 with the enthronement of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, following the approval of Charles III, Supreme Governor of the Church.
Her appointment marks a landmark step in female inclusion within the highest levels of Anglican leadership, a global community of over 95 million faithful across 165 countries.
The process, overseen by the Crown Nominations Commission and supported by the UK Government, will be formalized during the Canterbury Cathedral ceremony, where Mullally will be confirmed by the College of Canons.
Mullally’s career path is remarkable within the Church. Before her ordination, she served as Chief Nursing Officer for the UK Government, becoming the youngest person to hold the post.
For her contributions to healthcare, she was honored as a Dame. In 2002, she was ordained priest, serving in Southwark and Salisbury, later consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Crediton in 2015. By 2018, she became the first female Bishop of London, while also serving as Dean of the Royal Chapels.
“Throughout my career in nursing and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply—to people and to God’s gentle promptings—seeking to unite communities and bring hope and healing,” Mullally said after her appointment.
The decision is a milestone. The Church of England began ordaining women priests in 1994 and consecrating female bishops in 2015. Today, over 40 of its 108 bishops are women.
Mullally has championed inclusivity, supporting prayers of blessing for same-sex couples and recognizing diverse voices within Anglicanism.
“In an age hungry for certainty and tribalism, Anglicanism can offer something quieter but stronger,” she reflected.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized: “The Church of England is of profound importance to this nation. Its churches, cathedrals, schools and charities form part of the fabric of our communities. The new Archbishop will play a crucial role in our national life.”
Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in 2025 after criticism of his handling of a child abuse scandal linked to Christian camps. An inquiry found that Welby failed to report abuses committed by lawyer John Smith during the 1970s and 1980s. Since the report, the Ombudsman has registered 223 new testimonies, of which 129 have been deemed valid.
“As a Church, we have too often failed to recognize or take seriously abuses of power in all their forms,” Mullally acknowledged.
Although only 12% of Britons currently identify as active worshippers, the Church of England remains the nation’s official religion. Mullally steps into office tasked with balancing tradition and modernity, envisioning a more inclusive church that reflects the evolving social fabric of the Anglican global community.
