First Female Archbishop of the Church of England

On Wednesday, the Church of England confirmed Sarah Mulally as its first female archbishop.

Her appointment was initially announced back in October. The Church of England, as it states, encompasses “tens of millions of members” worldwide.

The Reverend Sarah Mulally was officially inaugurated as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony held at St Paul’s Cathedral. As her first act, she took up the Bishop’s Cross and delivered a blessing to conclude the service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury shapes the vision and direction of the Church of England, as noted by the church itself.

Mulally has shared progressive views on various biblical issues. “It has opened our eyes to the harm that we have done, especially to LGBTI+ people,” she remarked during a debate regarding the celebration of same-sex relationships. Additionally, in 2023, she was part of a discussion where it was reported that clergy would be allowed to offer blessings to same-sex couples.

Moreover, Mulally has highlighted that some women in the Church of England face “microaggressions.” In a prior statement, she expressed, “I want to encourage women and always have, but systemic barriers still exist.” This sentiment came in February 2025.

Not surprisingly, her appointment has not been universally welcomed. Conservative Anglican leaders, like Archbishop Henry Nkuba of Nigeria, have publicly opposed her. Nkuba labeled her views on homosexuality as “devastating” and stated that her election signifies that the global Anglican community can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England.

Due to this divide, some conservative churches are considering breaking away from the Anglican Communion.

Mulally takes the helm following the resignation of her predecessor, Archbishop Justin Welby, in November 2024. His departure was met with criticism for allegedly not reporting allegations of abuse connected to a church summer camp.

Sarah Mulally is set to officially take on the role of Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury in late March.