The Church of England on Friday, October 3, 2025, appointed Dame Sarah Mullally as the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic milestone in the church’s nearly 500-year history.
Mullally, 63, who has been Bishop of London since 2018, will succeed Archbishop Justin Welby when he steps down in January 2026.
She will become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the 85-million-member Anglican Communion worldwide.
Her appointment follows an eleven-month process led by the Crown Nominations Commission and has been formally endorsed by King Charles III, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
She will take office after the legal “confirmation of election” ceremony in January, with her enthronement to follow at Canterbury Cathedral.
Before entering ministry, Mullally had a distinguished career in healthcare, serving as Chief Nursing Officer for England.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Anglican Church Rejects Election of Lesbian as Archbishop
Since becoming a bishop, she has been outspoken on issues of inclusion and has supported the Church of England’s decision to bless same-sex couples.
The appointment has drawn both celebration and criticism.
Advocates of gender equality in the church hailed the decision as a long-overdue step forward, while conservative Anglican groups, including the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), expressed opposition, warning it could further strain relations within the global Anglican community.
Mullally’s elevation places her at the forefront of guiding the Church of England through debates over social issues, membership decline, and efforts to maintain unity across its diverse global branches.