Sarah Mullally will become the first female leader when she officially takes charge of the church in March 2026. A group of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia criticized the appointment.Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, making her the first female leader of the Church of England in its 1,400-year history.
The former chief nursing officer for England will be confirmed as the church’s top bishop at a legal ceremony in the coming months.
In her first words after confirmation of her appointment, Mullally said while the role is a “huge responsibility,” she feels a sense of “peace and trust in God to carry me.”
Mullally will legally become Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral in January.
Spiritual leader of Anglican Church
Mullally takes over the role from Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 and left office in January 2025 after failures in handling an abuse scandal.
Mullally will become the ceremonial head of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, but GAFCON — a grouping of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia, criticized Mullally’s appointment.
The group said her appointment showed that the English arm of the Church had “relinquished its authority to lead.”
Although King Charles III is head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church.
