The Church of England has named Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman in history to lead the Anglican Church. Mullally, who previously served as Bishop of London, will now become the spiritual head of more than 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in November after a report accused him of failing to properly investigate decades-old allegations of widespread abuse of boys and young men at Christian camps. Although Welby himself was not accused of misconduct, the findings left the church reeling from scandal and further divided over issues such as same-sex marriage.
From nursing to church leadership
Mullally, 63, began her career as a cancer nurse and later rose to become England’s Chief Nursing Officer before entering the clergy. Since 2018, she has held the distinction of being the first female Bishop of London. Known as a strong advocate for women’s rights within the Church of England, her appointment signals a historic step forward, though it may also deepen tensions within more conservative parts of the Anglican community, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Challenges ahead
Welby’s decade-long tenure included officiating at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, while also taking public stances on political issues such as immigration. His resignation, however, left the church facing a crisis of credibility over safeguarding failures and struggling with declining membership in an increasingly secular society.
Mullally will now be tasked with restoring trust in the church’s handling of abuse cases and attempting to bridge divides on doctrinal disputes, including same-sex marriage. She takes on leadership of a communion that has long wrestled with internal fractures, as the Archbishop of Canterbury traditionally serves as “first among equals” among Anglican leaders worldwide.
