LONDON – The Church of England has broken centuries of tradition by naming Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold the role in the church’s 1,400-year history.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop of the Church of England, spiritual head of the Anglican Communion worldwide, and leader of the Diocese of Canterbury. Mullally will now oversee the global Anglican community of around 85 million believers.
Her appointment has sparked mixed reactions. While many hail the move as historic progress, conservative Anglican groups, particularly in Africa, voiced opposition. The GAFCON network criticized the decision, claiming it reflected a loss of authority by the English church.
Mullally, 62, began her career as a nurse and served as England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s before entering priesthood in 2002. She later became one of the first women bishops in 2015. Reflecting on her journey, she has said that nursing and priesthood share a common mission: “Both are about being with people in the most difficult moments of their lives.”
Married to Eamonn and a mother of two, Mullally is also known for her outspoken stance against assisted dying legislation currently being debated in the UK Parliament.
Her biggest challenge now lies in bridging the deep divide between conservative Anglicans—especially in regions where homosexuality remains illegal—and the more liberal Anglican communities in the West.
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