October 03, (THEWILL) — Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London and a former nurse, has been appointed the next Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman in history to hold the role in the Church of England.
She was appointed nearly a year after Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned in November 2024 following a damning review of the Church’s response to a sexual abuse scandal.
Dame Sarah’s confirmation will take place in January through a legal ceremony.
In her first public appearance as archbishop-designate, she visited a local church in Canterbury, helped pack food parcels, and later addressed Canterbury Cathedral.
She stressed the importance of faith “in our fractured and hurting world,” condemned anti-Semitism after the recent Manchester synagogue terror attack, and pledged to confront the Church’s safeguarding failures.
“The misuse of power has caused deep harm. As archbishop, my commitment will be to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable, and foster a culture of safety and wellbeing”, she said.
The 63-year-old archbishop-designate is married with two children and previously served as the UK’s chief nursing officer from 1999 to 2004.
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 for her contributions to nursing and midwifery.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated her, calling the Church of England “part of the fabric of our communities”, while King Charles praised her appointment as significant for both the UK and the global Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior leader of the Church of England, overseeing its work in the southern two-thirds of the country and playing a central role in guiding its direction at home and abroad.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
