For the first time in its centuries-long history, the Church of England has appointed a woman as Archbishop of Canterbury, a move that has sparked both celebration and controversy across the global Anglican Communion. On October 3, 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that King Charles had approved the nomination of Sarah Mullally, the current bishop of London, to serve as the church’s most senior spiritual leader. Dame Sarah Mullally will be formally installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026, becoming the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury since St. Augustine’s historic mission in 597.
The significance of this appointment cannot be overstated. The Archbishop of Canterbury is not only the spiritual head of the Church of England but also the symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a network that encompasses around 85 million people in 165 countries. Mullally’s rise to this position marks a watershed moment for the church, which only began permitting women to become bishops in 2014.
“If you want to go fast, go alone – if you want to go far, go together,” Dame Sarah Mullally declared in her first public address as Archbishop-designate, according to BBC. Her words, emphasizing unity and collective progress, resonated with many in the Anglican community. Yet, as the ink dried on the official announcement, it was clear that not everyone shared the same optimism.
The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), a conservative network of Anglican churches primarily in Africa and Asia, greeted the news “with sorrow.” The group, formed in 2008 in response to theological rifts over issues like same-sex unions, has long opposed the ordination of women as bishops and the blessing of same-sex relationships—both of which have been points of contention within the Communion. The Most Reverend Dr Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda and chairman of Gafcon’s leadership council, argued, “the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.” Gafcon also criticized Dame Sarah’s support for the blessing of same-sex couples, accusing her of promoting “unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.”
This is not the first time the Anglican Communion has faced internal conflict. The ordination of women bishops in 2014 and the acceptance of same-sex relationships in 2023 have both deepened existing fissures. While Gafcon claims to represent the majority of the world’s Anglicans, that assertion is contested, and the reality across Africa and Asia is far from monolithic.
In contrast to Gafcon’s somber reaction, the Church of Southern Africa hailed the appointment as “historic.” Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town called it “a thrilling development,” signaling a more progressive approach within the Southern African church. Bishop Emily Onyango, the first woman ordained as a bishop in the Anglican Church of Kenya, described the announcement as “a new dawn.” She told BBC Focus on Africa that Gafcon’s stance was “patriarchal, which is not very useful to the Church.” Bishop Onyango praised Dame Sarah as “a humble person [who] listens, which is what the Church needs.” She added, “When you have a hardline stance and don’t listen to people, then there [are] a lot of problems. The new archbishop needs to address peace on the continent. Women and children are suffering, and she needs to work for peace and reconciliation.”
Yet, even within countries, opinions diverge. While Bishop Onyango welcomed the new archbishop, the Archbishop of Kenya is part of Gafcon’s leadership, underscoring the complexity of views within the Anglican fold. When asked whether this moment could cause an irreparable rupture in the Communion, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda replied, “nothing is irreparable with God, but it requires repentance. Gafcon has always called for erring church leaders to repent and return to the Bible’s teaching. But until they do so, we cannot walk with them in their apostasy.”
Dame Sarah Mullally’s own journey to the top of the Church of England is remarkable. Ordained in 2001, she became the first female bishop of London in 2018. Before her ecclesiastical career, she was a specialist cancer nurse and later the government’s youngest chief nursing officer for England at just 37. In a statement following her appointment, Mullally reflected on her path: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.” She continued, “At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply — to people and to God’s gentle prompting — to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.”
Her appointment follows a turbulent period for the Church of England. The previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned 11 months earlier after a damning report into his handling of a high-profile child abuse case. Mullally steps into this role not only as a symbol of progress but also at a time when the church is grappling with both internal challenges and broader social issues.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the national importance of the Church of England, noting, “The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.” Starmer added that Mullally would play “a key role in our national life.”
In her remarks after the appointment, Mullally addressed the turbulence of the present moment. “In the apparent chaos which surrounds us, in the midst of such profound global uncertainty, the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love.” She also referenced the terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester on October 2, 2025, stating that Church of England members “have a responsibility to be a people who stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart.”
The debate over Mullally’s appointment lays bare the deep divisions within the Anglican Communion. While some see her elevation as a necessary step toward inclusion and modernity, others view it as a departure from tradition and biblical teaching. The coming months will test whether the church can navigate these turbulent waters or whether the fissures will widen further.
Dame Sarah Mullally’s leadership will be closely watched, not just by Anglicans but by observers around the world. Her commitment to listening, service, and unity faces a daunting test in a community seeking both healing and direction at a critical juncture.
