London – The Church of England has appointed the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time in history that a woman will hold the Church’s highest office. She succeeds Justin Welby, who stepped down nearly a year ago.
Bishop Mullally, who has been serving as Bishop of London since 2018, has broken barriers throughout her career. Before that, she was Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter.
Her journey into ministry followed a distinguished career in healthcare, where she rose to become England’s Chief Nursing Officer at the age of 37—the youngest person ever appointed to the post.
A former cancer nurse, she has often said that nursing gave her the chance “to reflect the love of God” in her work.
Her selection came after months of consultation, prayer, and deliberation through the Crown Nominations Commission, which included voices from across the Church of England, the global Anglican Communion, and the Diocese of Canterbury.
As Archbishop, Mullally will not only serve as Bishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England but also act as the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, representing around 85 million members in 165 countries. She will also retain a seat in the House of Lords among the Lords Spiritual.
In her first remarks following the announcement, Mullally said she intends to approach the new role in the same spirit of service that has guided her faith since her teenage years. She emphasized her desire to see the Church grow in confidence, share the love of Christ, and act upon that message in communities across England and beyond.
However, her appointment has triggered sharp criticism from conservative Anglicans. The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a major traditionalist coalition within the Communion, rejected her leadership, citing her openness to same-sex blessings and her stance on marriage.
Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, GAFCON’s chair, argued that the decision reflects a departure from biblical teaching and will worsen divisions within the Church. Reaffirming the 2023 Kigali Commitment, GAFCON declared that it no longer recognizes the Archbishop of Canterbury as a central unifying authority.
Instead, it announced plans to convene a Bishops’ Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, in March 2026, which it described as a pivotal gathering of orthodox Anglicans.
“We cannot accept her as primus inter pares,” Mbanda said. “The future of our Communion lies with those who remain faithful to the gospel.”
GAFCON nonetheless pledged to pray for Mullally, expressing hope that she would “repent and guard the faith” entrusted to her as she prepares to formally assume office in March 2026.
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