Sarah Mullally was named on Friday as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to head the Church of England in its 1,400-year history.
The 63-year-old, who has been Bishop of London since 2018, also assumes the role of spiritual leader for some 85 million Anglicans worldwide. The communion remains divided, with conservative branches in Africa and Asia clashing with more liberal churches in the West, particularly on issues such as homosexuality.
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a coalition of conservative Anglican churches, swiftly denounced the appointment, claiming the English church had “relinquished its authority to lead”.
Record-breaking appointment
Reforms passed 11 years ago paved the way for a woman to hold the office. As the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Mullally now becomes the first female leader in a role previously reserved for men.
In her acceptance remarks, she said she hoped to unite people and offer “hope and healing”.
“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence,” she said, pledging to share the journey of faith with congregations across England and the Anglican Communion.
Liberal record and professional background
Mullally has previously advocated for liberal reforms within the Church, including blessings for same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages. Before entering the clergy, she worked as a cancer nurse and later served as England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s.
She has often stressed the parallels between nursing and ministry, describing both as vocations rooted in supporting people through life’s most difficult moments.
Ordained in 2002, she was among the first women consecrated as bishops in 2015. Since then, she has sat in the House of Lords, where she has spoken on the cost-of-living crisis, health policy, and social justice issues.
National and royal approval
Her appointment was formally announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office with the consent of King Charles III, reflecting the Church of England’s status as the established church.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,” Starmer said.
King Charles, as monarch, remains Supreme Governor of the Church, a position created in the 16th century by Henry VIII’s break with Rome.
The Church has been without a leader since Justin Welby resigned last November over a child abuse cover-up scandal.
Mullally will be installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026. She is married to Eamonn and has two adult children.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phas...
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, visited Tehran to address “urgent humanitarian...
China has warned the U.S. that Taiwan will dominate next month’s summit in Beijing, raising pressure on Washington and concern in Taipei over...
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions...
From Thursday, 1 May, goods from every African country with diplomatic ties to China will be able to enter the Chinese market without paying import...
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, visited Tehran to address “urgent humanitarian concerns” following the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, according to an ICRC delegation statement.
China has warned the U.S. that Taiwan will dominate next month’s summit in Beijing, raising pressure on Washington and concern in Taipei over any shift in long-standing American policy.
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions of dollars.
A report published by Minval Politika has raised new questions over alleged efforts by Luis Moreno Ocampo to shape international pressure against Azerbaijan and influence political dynamics around Armenia.
A report published by Minval Politika has raised new questions over alleged efforts by Luis Moreno Ocampo to shape international pressure against Azerbaijan and influence political dynamics around Armenia.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions of dollars.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
China has warned the U.S. that Taiwan will dominate next month’s summit in Beijing, raising pressure on Washington and concern in Taipei over any shift in long-standing American policy.
Shares in Meta Platforms fell sharply in extended trading on Wednesday after the tech giant raised its annual capital spending forecast by billions of dollars.
From Thursday, 1 May, goods from every African country with diplomatic ties to China will be able to enter the Chinese market without paying import duties.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 30th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a three‑year budget plan on Wednesday that clears the way for Congress to take up an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement by federal agencies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment