Britain has named Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time in the 1,400-year history of the post that a woman will lead the Church of England.
Her appointment also makes her the ceremonial head of the global Anglican Communion, representing around 85 million members. The decision, announced on Friday, is expected to spark mixed reactions, particularly among more conservative branches of the church in African nations, according to Reuters.
Reforms passed 11 years ago allowed women to be considered for the role. By becoming the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Mullally breaks through one of the last major male-dominated bastions of British public life. Yet, with nearly two-thirds of Anglicans living in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, her appointment could widen existing theological rifts.
At 63, Mullally brings a background in healthcare, having worked as England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s. She has long championed openness in church life, encouraging dialogue across differences. “There are great commonalities between nursing and being a priest. It’s all about people, and being present with them during their most difficult times,” she once reflected in an interview.
The Church of England, as the country’s established church, announced the decision through Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office with the formal approval of King Charles, who serves as the church’s supreme governor — a role dating back to Henry VIII’s break with Rome in the 16th century.
The post had been vacant since last November when Justin Welby resigned following criticism over his handling of a child abuse cover-up scandal.
