Dame Sarah Mullally, the current Bishop of London, has been named the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the Church of England’s most senior clerical office. King Charles approved her appointment following months of deliberation by the Crown Nominations Commission, which convened after the resignation of Justin Welby in November 2024 and considered women for the position for the first time. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Office on Friday, ending months of speculation about the church’s leadership amidst its ongoing challenges.
Welby, who had served as Archbishop for nearly 12 years, resigned under pressure following scrutiny of the Church of England’s failures to prevent sexual and physical abuse committed by a child abuser connected to the institution. His successor in an acting capacity, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, faced criticism over a separate safeguarding case, highlighting the urgent need for reform. In February, Cottrell acknowledged that the church faced “difficult and challenging times” and expressed determination to implement changes to prevent future abuses.
Mullally, 63, has long been a leading figure in the church and a prominent advocate for safeguarding reform. She previously served as a cancer nurse and England’s chief nursing officer before being ordained in 2002, and has held the position of Bishop of London since 2018. Speaking at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, she acknowledged the church’s “history of safeguarding failures” and vowed to foster a culture of safety and wellbeing for all, while also condemning the “horrific violence” of the recent Manchester synagogue attack.
The Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by former MI5 head Lord Jonathan Evans, met several times over the year to select a candidate, emphasizing the need for a leader of “utmost integrity” capable of addressing pressing social and political issues and uniting both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage within the church. Mullally played a key role in the 2023 approval of prayers of blessing for same-sex couples, describing it as “a moment of hope” and demonstrating her commitment to balancing tradition with contemporary social challenges.
Mullally’s installation as Archbishop is scheduled for March 2026, completing a historic journey that began with her conversion to Christianity at 16 and a career that has spanned nursing, public service, and ecclesiastical leadership. As the first woman to lead the Church of England in its 1,400-year history, she faces the dual challenge of restoring public trust while guiding the Anglican Communion through a period of reform, safeguarding, and ongoing societal debate.
