🔗 Share this article

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - creating a milestone as the initial female to be chosen for this prestigious role.

A former NHS chief nurse, the sixty-three-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was appointed as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of clergy in the Church of England.

This signifies the first time in almost five centuries of tradition that the Church has chosen a female to lead it.

Historic Appointment

The Church has been lacking an individual in the leading position for approximately twelve months after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a serial offender associated with the Church. The investigation found that he "was able and obligated" have reported John Smyth's abuse of male youths to police in 2013.

The Archbishop of York took on most of Mr Welby's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was one of the voting members of the committee charged with choosing his successor.

Political Process

In line with tradition, the process of selecting a spiritual leader involves a candidate being presented to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the monarch.

The Prime Minister has applauded Dame Sarah's appointment, commenting: "The Archbishop of Canterbury will serve an important function in our country's affairs. I wish her every success and look forward to working together."

While, technically, the monarch is head of the Anglican Church, the individual occupying the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking cleric and is the religious guide of the Church and the global Anglican community.

Royal and Global Response

The monarch has praised the new Archbishop on her new role, "a position of great significance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", the royal household announced.

The international conservative Anglican group, which represents conservative views, has questioned the appointment, saying that although certain groups support the decision, "the majority of the global church still maintains that the Bible requires a all-male bishopric."

Transition Period

She will not formally assume her new role until a confirmation of election in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes subsequently, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a declaration on Friday after her appointment was confirmed, she stated: "I recognize this is a huge responsibility but I undertake it with a feeling of calm and trust in God to carry me as has consistently occurred."

Addressing media at Canterbury Cathedral, she noted that "in an age that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, the Anglican tradition provides a more subtle approach but stronger."

Responding to Attack

Addressing the "terrible attack" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in the northern city, she said "we observe prejudice that emerges through divisions across our society."

She added: "We then as a Church have a duty to be a group who support the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in every manifestation. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to divide our society."

Professional History

Married with two children, she spent over 35 years in the NHS, becoming the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for the country in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the religious community at the period, it was just a short time after that she decided to become a priest and was promptly assigned helping implement changes in the way the organization dealt with misconduct.

In that year she became canon treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral before assuming the role of Bishop of Crediton in the regional church administration in 2015.

As Bishop of London she was regarded as someone who used her experience as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Personal Philosophy

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had different professional paths, first in the health service and now in the religious institution.

"I prefer to think that I have consistently maintained one vocation: to pursue Christian faith, to know him and to share his message, continually striving to live with compassion in the service of others, whether as a nurse, a priest, or a bishop."

Future Challenges

Possibly the pressing issue in her in-tray is still to develop improved approaches towards dealing with misconduct and treating with more compassion those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a decline in religious participation, though the capital has to some extent bucked that trend.

One of the areas she has been particularly vocal on is assisted dying - she is a strong critic, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When the law was passed in the Commons, she described it as "impractical and dangerous and creates danger to the most vulnerable people in our community."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as Bishop of London was to chair a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She characterized the decision to ultimately permit priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023 as "an optimistic development for the religious community."

Rowan Williams, described her new role as requiring a "awareness of current affairs and a understanding of scripture."

Dr Williams told journalists "the expectation of having an position on all matters is significantly demanding."