Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to lead the Church of England in the role’s 1,400-year history.
Mullally, 63, was appointed on Friday, October 3, 2025.
She will also serve as spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, representing some 85 million members. Her appointment follows reforms introduced in 2014 that opened the office to women for the first time.
Mullally’s elevation has already drawn sharp reactions. GAFCON, a coalition of conservative Anglican churches in Africa and Asia, criticised the choice, accusing the English church of surrendering its leadership role. Divisions over same-sex marriage and other social issues remain key tensions between the Communion’s liberal and conservative wings.
Since becoming Bishop of London in 2018, Mullally has supported progressive reforms, including allowing blessings for same-sex couples.
Accepting her appointment, she pledged to seek unity, saying: “I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence.
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“I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.”
A former cancer nurse, Mullally previously served as England’s Chief Nursing Officer before her ordination in 2002.
She was consecrated a bishop in 2015, joining the House of Lords soon after, where she has spoken on issues from healthcare to social justice.
Her installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will take place at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026. She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned last November following a scandal over the Church’s handling of abuse cases.
The Church of England has been without a leader after Welby resigned.
Mullally, who is married with two adult children, has often drawn parallels between her two careers, saying: “There are great commonalities between nursing and being a priest. It’s all about people, and sitting with people during the most difficult times in their lives.”
King Charles III remains the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, but as Archbishop, Mullally becomes its most senior bishop and the global figurehead of Anglicanism.
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