The Church of England announced that Bishop of London Sarah Mullally will become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to hold the post after 105 male predecessors.
Mullally, 62, replaces Justin Welby, who stepped down last year following criticism over his handling of abuse allegations tied to church summer camps.
Mullally, a former nurse who became a Christian at 16, previously served as England’s youngest-ever Chief Nursing Officer before entering ministry.
Dame Sarah Mullally has been named the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the Church of England’s most senior clerical position. https://t.co/VkwmZ04CdY pic.twitter.com/kiZqfqEGdP
— Financial Times (@FT) October 3, 2025
She was named Bishop of London in 2018, the first woman to hold that office, and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to healthcare.
U.K. leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, endorsed the appointment, while Anglican leaders praised her as a figure of “courage, wisdom, integrity and experience.”
Sarah Mullally named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in history of Church of England https://t.co/qHvYn20LXg pic.twitter.com/Qza8mUar1S
— New York Post (@nypost) October 3, 2025
Her election will be confirmed in January 2026, with an installation at Canterbury Cathedral set for March 25, 2026.
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