For the first time in its 1,400-year history, the Church of England has selected a woman as its spiritual leader. On October 3, 2025, the Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, aged 63 and currently the Bishop of London, was announced as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Her appointment marks a watershed moment not only for the Church of England but also for the global Anglican Communion, which counts more than 85 million members across 165 countries. Yet, as celebrations erupted in some quarters, others responded with skepticism—or outright opposition—highlighting the complex tapestry of faith, tradition, and reform that defines the modern Anglican world.
Mullally’s journey to this historic role is itself remarkable. A former chief nursing officer for England, she was ordained a priest in 2006 and became the first female bishop of London in 2018. Her background in nursing, ministerial care, and church leadership has shaped her approach to faith. As she said during her address at Canterbury Cathedral, “Washing feet has shaped my Christian vocation as a nurse, then a priest, then a bishop.” According to The New York Times, she emphasized that “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.”
This pastoral ethos was evident as Mullally addressed some of the most pressing issues facing both the church and society. She spoke out against antisemitism following a violent synagogue attack in Manchester, called for compassion in debates over migration, and reiterated her opposition to assisted dying legislation, drawing on her experience as a nurse. “If passed, the bill will signal that we are a society that believes that some lives are not worth living,” she warned in the House of Lords, as reported by The New York Times. Mullally argued that adequate palliative care and support for the vulnerable should be the priority, not medically assisted death.
Yet the challenges awaiting her are formidable. The Church of England has been rocked by sexual abuse scandals, declining attendance, and deep divisions over the roles of women and LGBTQ people. Her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned in January 2025 after an independent investigation found he failed to report abuse allegations involving a church volunteer. Andrew Graystone, an advocate for abuse survivors, told the Press Association, “The biggest challenge for the new archbishop is to restore trust after a decade of abuse scandals.”
Mullally did not shy away from this reality in her first remarks. She pledged to “continue to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable, and foster a culture of safety and well-being for all.” Acknowledging the church’s history of safeguarding failures, she stated, “Our history of safeguarding failures have left a legacy of deep harm and mistrust, and we must all be willing to have light shone on our actions, regardless of our role in the Church... Safeguarding is everyone’s business. But for those of us in senior leadership, it carries an added weight of accountability.” (Premier Christian News)
However, some survivors of church-related abuse remain unconvinced. Gilo, who was abused by a clergyman in the 1970s and whose case led to the 2016 Elliott Review (which found the Church’s safeguarding processes “fundamentally flawed”), expressed his disappointment to Premier Christian News. “From a survivors and safeguarding point of view, I would say it's a rather disappointing day. This is not a day that many survivors will greet with excitement.” Gilo criticized Mullally’s handling of the Elliott Review, saying, “She silenced and blanked. I don't know whether she was instructed by others to close down key questions, but certainly in response to key questions about the Elliott review, she just blanked and silenced.” He argued that other bishops on the shortlist might have represented more desire for accountability and transparency at the top.
Internationally, Mullally’s appointment has been met with both celebration and criticism—especially from within the Anglican Communion’s African provinces, which represent the majority of the world’s Anglicans. The Rev. Emily Onyango, assistant bishop of the Diocese of Bondo in Kenya, told Religion News Service, “It is very significant—we are very excited about it and we are talking about it as women bishops. It means a lot for the church. Being the first woman archbishop of Canterbury, we believe things will be done differently. … We know there will be justice in the church, and we know she will work for peace and unity—something we need both in the church and in the world.”
Yet, not all African Anglicans share this optimism. Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON), issued a stark statement rejecting Mullally’s appointment. He argued that the Church of England had chosen “a leader who would further divide the already split communion,” accusing Mullally of abandoning her consecration vows by promoting “unbiblical teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.” Mbanda cited Mullally’s 2023 statement that some same-sex relationships could be blessed and her vote in favor of introducing blessings for same-sex marriages within the Church of England. “Sadly, they have not done so,” Mbanda said of the selection process, “although some will welcome Mullally’s appointment as the first woman archbishop of Canterbury, the majority of the Anglican Communion in Africa believe the Bible requires a spiritual leader who is a man.” He further asserted that her appointment undermines the credibility of the archbishop’s office among African Anglicans.
On the other hand, the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, represented by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, welcomed Mullally’s appointment as a “thrilling development,” expressing hope for a more prophetic and pastoral response to the challenges facing the global church.
The process that led to Mullally’s appointment was itself lengthy and opaque. According to AP, the selection took 11 months and was chaired by a former MI5 director-general. No shortlist was published, and the process was described as more of a consultative marathon than a transparent election. As George Gross of King’s College London noted, “At least on the last few occasions, a new pope has been selected at great speed, but to select the Archbishop of Canterbury... it takes months.”
Mullally will be officially installed at Canterbury Cathedral in January 2026, with a formal enthronement ceremony expected to include members of the royal family. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III both welcomed her appointment, with Starmer emphasizing the Church’s importance to British society and King Charles noting the global ramifications of her new role.
Looking ahead, Mullally faces a daunting agenda: restoring trust after abuse scandals, navigating debates over same-sex marriage and gender roles, and uniting a communion that is as global as it is divided. She herself acknowledged the difficulty, saying, “I will not always get things right. But I’m encouraged by the psalmist who tells us that ‘Though you stumble, you shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds you fast by your hand.’”
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Mullally will need to balance tradition and change, pastoral care and prophetic witness, unity and diversity. The world—and the church—will be watching closely to see how she navigates the stormy waters ahead.
