For centuries, the ancient stones of Canterbury Cathedral have borne witness to moments that shaped not just the Church of England, but the spiritual and cultural life of the nation. On March 25, 2026, those stones echoed with a new kind of history. As sunlight filtered through high stained glass, Dame Sarah Mullally was formally installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury—the first woman to hold the Church’s highest office.
The significance of this occasion was not lost on the thousands who gathered, nor on the millions more who watched live on BBC One and iPlayer. The BBC’s head of religion and ethics, Daisy Scalchi, put it plainly: “The BBC will ensure that everyone across the UK will be able to join this historic ceremony and witness the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first ever woman in this position.” The broadcast, which began at 2:30pm, offered viewers an up-close look at a ceremony that was as much about renewal as it was about tradition.
Dame Sarah’s journey to this moment was itself a reflection of dedication and faith. A former chief nursing officer for England and, later, bishop of London, she had been named to the role of Archbishop in October 2025. Her appointment followed the resignation of Justin Welby, who stepped down in 2024 after facing criticism for his handling of a church safeguarding scandal, according to The Independent. But for Dame Sarah, the path to Canterbury was not just a matter of officialdom—it was also a literal pilgrimage. In the days leading up to her installation, she walked from London to Canterbury, a six-day trek that ended on Sunday, March 22. This journey, both spiritual and physical, set the tone for a ministry rooted in humility and service.
The installation ceremony itself was a blend of ancient ritual and contemporary symbolism. Before a congregation of around 2,000 invited guests—including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and bishops from 32 of the 42 provinces of the Anglican Communion—Dame Sarah approached the West Door of the Cathedral. There, she knocked and was greeted by children from John Wallis Academy in Ashford, a gesture that underscored her commitment to inclusivity and the future of the Church.
Inside, the 90-minute service unfolded with a sense of reverence and hope. Dame Sarah renewed her vows and commitments to ministry, pledging herself anew to the work ahead. In a moment rich with symbolism, she took her oath on the St John’s Bible, a hand-illuminated Benedictine Bible gifted to the cathedral in 2023. This marked the first time an Archbishop of Canterbury swore on this text, as the Augustine Gospels—used in previous ceremonies—had become too fragile to move. The oath was, in the words of The Independent, a reminder of continuity and change: “The oath Dame Sarah will take will be sworn for the first time on the St John’s Bible—a copy of the first Benedictine, hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years, which was given to the cathedral in 2023.”
As part of the enthronement, Dame Sarah was seated first in the Diocesan cathedra, the Bishop’s Chair dating from 1844, and then in the ancient Chair of St Augustine, which has been used for centuries to install archbishops. These acts, steeped in tradition, were punctuated by moments that spoke to the diversity and global reach of the Anglican Communion. The ceremony featured six languages, including singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish, and a prayer in Bemba, the language of Zambia. Five of the “Africa Six”—the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa—processed through the nave in their robes, a powerful visual statement about the evolving face of church leadership.
Music, too, played a central role, with choral selections ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary works. The anthem “All Shall Be Well,” composed by Joanna Marsh, celebrated the contributions of female scholars, musicians, and writers to the Church throughout history. Even the vestments Dame Sarah wore carried meaning: the clasp on her cope (a ceremonial cloak) was fashioned from the belt buckle she wore as a nurse in the NHS, and the staff she received had once belonged to Geoffrey Fisher, the last bishop of London to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
The service was attended by a remarkable cross-section of society. Alongside royalty and politicians were faith leaders from other traditions, including Cardinal Kurt Koch representing the Pope, Imam Qari Asim from the British Muslim Network, and Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Charity representatives, healthcare workers, and schoolchildren also filled the pews, reflecting the broad impact and reach of the Church in British life.
Ian Markham, Dean and President of the Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary, traveled from the United States to represent his institutions at the installation. He captured the mood in a statement: “There is something profoundly moving about standing in a moment when history is actively being made. One senses both the weight of the past and the unfolding promise of the future. Let us hold the Anglican Communion in our prayers at this important moment of transition. Let us also pray for Archbishop Mullally as she begins this new chapter of leadership and service. May she be granted wisdom, courage, and grace for the work ahead.”
The ceremony was more than just a pageant. During the broadcast, the new Archbishop delivered her first sermon and swore an oath of obedience before the gathered assembly. She also spoke exclusively to BBC’s Paddy O’Connell, reflecting on the challenges ahead for the Church and for her personally. The BBC, in its coverage, emphasized the importance of religious programming in helping people understand one another’s beliefs and bringing communities together.
For the Anglican Communion, the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally is a watershed moment. The presence of so many bishops from around the world, the inclusion of multiple languages, and the acknowledgment of women’s growing leadership all pointed to a Church that is both rooted in tradition and open to change. The fact that the Prince of Wales represented the King at the ceremony, as heir to the throne and future Supreme Governor of the Church, added a note of continuity to the day’s events.
As the congregation poured out into the spring air at the end of the service, there was a palpable sense that something important had shifted. The Church of England, often criticized for its slow pace of change, had taken a decisive step into the future. Dame Sarah Mullally’s installation as Archbishop of Canterbury was not just a personal milestone, but a moment that resonated far beyond the cathedral walls—with echoes that will be felt for generations to come.