Dame Sarah Mullally, a former NHS chief nurse and current Bishop of London, has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury-designate — making history as the first woman chosen to lead the worldwide Anglican Communion in 1,400 years.
The 63-year-old, who became England’s youngest-ever Chief Nursing Officer in 1999 before being ordained a priest in 2006, rose quickly through the ranks of the Church of England, becoming its most senior female cleric when she was appointed Bishop of London in 2018.
Her appointment ends nearly a year of uncertainty following the resignation of Justin Welby, who stepped down after a damning safeguarding report that found he failed to act on allegations of abuse. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell had been covering the role in the interim, despite facing criticism himself over past safeguarding cases.
Speaking from Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, Dame Sarah used her first public remarks to address both the Church’s failings and the wider social climate. She condemned the “horrific violence” of Thursday’s synagogue attack in Manchester, insisting that “hatred and racism cannot be allowed to tear us apart,” and pledged to confront the Church’s own history of safeguarding failures.
“In an age that craves certainty and tribalism, Anglicanism offers something quieter but stronger,” she said. “We must all be willing to have light shone on our actions, regardless of our role in the Church.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed her appointment, calling it “a moment of significance for the Church and the country,” while King Charles III congratulated her on taking up a role “of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion.”
Her appointment has not been without controversy. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, representing conservative voices in the Communion, criticised the decision, insisting that “the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.”
Dame Sarah, married with two children, will formally assume office after a confirmation of election in January, followed by her enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral. She has said she recognises the historic nature of her appointment but sees it as an opportunity to inspire young women:
“When I visit schools, young girls don’t necessarily want to be bishops or archbishops, but they see that there are possibilities for them to fulfil their dreams.”
Among the pressing challenges awaiting her are restoring trust after years of safeguarding scandals, addressing declining church attendance, and guiding the Church on divisive issues such as same-sex blessings and assisted dying — both of which she has spoken on strongly.
Dame Sarah is known for bringing her background in healthcare and administration to Church leadership. “I have had experiences as a nurse leading complex organisations, as the government’s chief nursing officer, and also a diocese that is very diverse in London,” she told the BBC. “I have been prepared for some of this, but recognise I can’t do it alone. I need to do it with colleagues.”
Former Archbishop Rowan Williams summed up the challenge ahead: “The job requires a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other. The expectation of having an opinion on everything is quite heavy.”