Sarah Mullally was formally installed on Wednesday as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England in its more than 1,400-year history.
The ceremony took place at Canterbury Cathedral, where Mullally took her seat on the historic Chair of St Augustine before about 2,000 guests, including Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Although she assumed office in January, the enthronement marked the public beginning of her ministry as head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has more than 80 million members.
“As I begin my ministry today as archbishop of Canterbury, I say again to God: ‘Here I am’,” Mullally told the congregation in her inaugural sermon.
Her appointment follows the resignation of Justin Welby in November 2024, after criticism over his handling of abuse allegations linked to a church-affiliated camp.
Who is Sarah Mullally?
Mullally, 63, was born in Woking, southwest of London, in 1962. She began her career as a cancer nurse in the National Health Service and rose to become England’s Chief Nursing Officer at age 37, the youngest person to hold the post.
She entered ordained ministry at 40, after beginning theological training while still working in public health. She was ordained as a priest following the Church’s decision to allow women into the role in 1994.
Her rise continued after the Church approved female bishops in 2015. Mullally became one of the early women to reach that rank and was later appointed Bishop of London in 2018, one of the Church’s most senior positions.
The office she now holds dates back to the year 597, when St. Augustine of Canterbury was sent to Britain to establish the early Church.
Her installation took place on the Feast of the Annunciation, which commemorates the biblical account of Mary being told she would give birth to Jesus.
“I intend to be a shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever our tradition,” Mullally said when her appointment was announced.
Divisions within the global church
Mullally begins her tenure at a time of strain within the Anglican Communion, a network of churches spread across different regions and cultures.
Differences over the role of women and the treatment of LGBTQ+ people have led to disagreements among member churches. Some conservative groups had criticised her appointment, arguing that it departs from traditional teaching.
At the same time, the Church continues to face scrutiny over safeguarding failures. In her address, Mullally acknowledged past shortcomings and called for renewed commitment to “truth, compassion, justice and action.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury does not exercise direct authority over all Anglican churches but is a symbolic and unifying figure for the church.
It also retains a place in public life in England, where senior bishops sit in the House of Lords.
During the service, prayers and readings were delivered in several languages, including Spanish and Urdu.
Mullally also prayed for “peace to prevail” in conflict-affected regions, including parts of the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar.
Her appointment follows decades of gradual change within the Church. Women were first ordained as priests in 1994 and as bishops in 2015.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, theologian George Gross described the moment as significant for representation within the Church.
“The stained glass ceiling is smashed,” he said, referring to barriers that had long limited women’s access to senior leadership roles.
