Dame Sarah Mullally has made history as the first woman to be appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, taking over from Reverend Justin Welby, who resigned amid criticism over safeguarding failures in the Church of England. She is expected to address the public at Canterbury Cathedral later on Friday.
This new role makes Dame Sarah the highest-ranking bishop in the Church of England and the spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion. She will carry the responsibility of guiding the Church after almost a year since Reverend Welby announced his departure.
At 63, Dame Sarah has served as Bishop of London since 2018. Her journey in the clergy began when she became Bishop of Crediton in Devon in 2015, just one year after the Church started ordaining women as bishops.
She was the fourth woman ever to reach bishopric status in the Church’s history.
Beyond her episcopal duties, Dame Sarah holds a seat in the House of Lords and joined the Privy Council in 2018. Before her rise in the Church, she had a distinguished career in nursing, becoming England’s youngest chief nursing officer in 1999.
Her contribution to nursing and midwifery earned her a Dame Commander of the British Empire award in 2005. She is married and has two children.
Reverend Welby officially stepped down in January 2025, following his resignation announcement in November 2024.
His departure came after the Makin Review found that he failed to act adequately on allegations against John Smyth, a serial abuser with links to the Church of England.
The report concluded that Smyth might have faced justice if the claims had been reported to the authorities in 2013.
Dame Sarah’s appointment represents a landmark moment for the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion, symbolizing both progress and a commitment to leadership diversity.