The Church of England, which for centuries has held a central place in United Kingdom (UK) society and in the life of the royal family, has experienced a historic turning point. Nearly a year after the resignation of Justin Welby, it has been announced that for the first time in its history, the Church will be led by a woman.
Downing Street confirmed that Sarah Mullally, the current Bishop of London, has been appointed the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mullally, who is 63 years old, will officially assume the position in January at a ceremony in the famous cathedral in Canterbury, followed later by a formal enthronement, which is expected to be attended by members of the British royal family.
From nurse to the top of the church hierarchy
What makes this story even more interesting is the professional background of the new archbishop. Before being ordained, Sarah Mullally worked as a nurse, and at the age of 37, she became the Chief Nursing Officer for England, one of the highest positions in the health system. For her contribution to medicine, she was awarded the title of Dame, the UK equivalent of a knighthood.
She is married to Eamonn Mullally and is the mother of two adult children. Only after her career in healthcare did she decide to dedicate her life to the Church, and in 2015, she became one of the first female bishops after the Church of England changed its rules and allowed women to hold that position.
In her first address in Canterbury, Mullally emphasized that she is aware of the weight of the moment and the responsibility it brings.
“Many will call this a historic moment, and rightly so. But I rejoice not for myself, but for the Church that listens to God’s call and says: Yes, we will follow You,” she said.
She added that she wants to be “a shepherd who enables everyone to find their calling and develop their ministry, regardless of the tradition to which they belong.”
A legacy of scandal and difficult questions
Her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned after a scandal involving the cover-up of cases of sexual abuse within the Church. Mullally has promised to confront that dark legacy decisively and restore the trust of the faithful.
“Too many times we have failed to take the abuse of power in all its forms seriously. We must be ready to have light cast on our actions, regardless of the positions we hold,” she said.
At the same time, the Church faces a decline in the number of believers, fierce debates over same-sex marriage, and the question of how to respond to the rise of Christian nationalism on the far right.
Although the Church of England is the state church in the UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury has a global role as the spiritual leader of about 85 million Anglicans worldwide. This means Mullally will have to balance between the conservative positions of churches in Africa, where homosexuality remains banned in some countries, and more liberal voices from the West.
In her first address, she also touched on the broader social and political climate in the UK, speaking about issues such as euthanasia, migration, and the rise of antisemitism following the recent attack on a synagogue in Manchester.
“The Church must stand with the Jewish community and clearly say that hatred and racism can have no place in our society,” she emphasized.
Support from the government and the king
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the Church of England is of “profound importance” to the country and that the archbishop will play a key role in public life. A congratulatory message also arrived from Buckingham Palace from King Charles III, who stressed the importance of this position in the UK and throughout the Anglican Communion.
For many liberal believers, this appointment represents the final recognition of the importance of women in church life. However, resistance from conservative circles is expected, with some bishops already announcing that they will not receive communion from the new archbishop’s hands.
Despite that, the campaign for women’s equality in the Church of England welcomed this decision, emphasizing that it marks a moment that will shape the Church’s future, Klix.ba writes.
