London — For the first time in its history, the Church of England has appointed a woman to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday that King Charles has given his approval for Sarah Mullally, the current bishop of London, to assume the church’s highest office. She is scheduled to be installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.
Mullally’s appointment marks a historic milestone, as she becomes the first female Archbishop of Canterbury since women were permitted to become bishops in 2014.
As the spiritual head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury leads a worldwide Anglican community of approximately 85 million members spanning 165 countries.
In response to her nomination, Mullally 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 continued, “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.”
Before becoming bishop of London in 2018, Mullally was ordained in 2001 and had a distinguished career as a specialist cancer nurse. At just 37, she became the youngest chief nursing officer for England.
Her appointment follows the resignation of the previous archbishop, Justin Welby, who stepped down 11 months ago amid a critical report into his handling of a case involving a prolific child abuser linked to the church.
Mullally will be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, a position dating back to St. Augustine, who was sent by Pope Gregory in 597 to convert the English people to Roman Christianity.
Prime Minister Starmer praised Mullally’s selection, emphasizing the significant role she will play in British society. “The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities,” he said.
In a speech following her appointment, Mullally remarked, “In the apparent chaos which surrounds us, in the midst of such profound global uncertainty, the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love.”
She also addressed the recent terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester, stating that members of the Church of England “have a responsibility to be a people who stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart.”