In a historic moment for the Church of England, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury was consecrated, marking a significant milestone after 1,400 years. However, the ceremony was disrupted by a priest who accused church authorities of failing in security protocols linked to a 2020 suicide of a London priest.
At St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, Dame Sarah Mullaly, Bishop of London, was officially confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, alongside Britain’s former head of nursing, Bishop Suffragan Crediton. As a “theological liberal,” Mullaly now leads the world’s largest Anglican Communion, which comprises the Church of England, the Episcopal Church, and various other churches across 165 countries.
Though this global fellowship should be unifying, there seems to be some tension. Last year’s appointment, which was confirmed this week, has created a rift between British liberal theologians and traditionalists in Africa and Asia. GAFCON, an Africa-centric Anglican group, stated that this decision “abandons the Anglican Communion.”
The Anglican Church of Nigeria described the decision as “devastating” and disregarding the beliefs of many Anglicans who oppose a female leader in their diocese.
Criticism of Mullaly wasn’t solely based on her gender. Some questioned her leadership as Bishop of London, as well as her ties to the scandals involving sexual abuse and security lapses that led to the resignation of the previous archbishop in 2024. These critiques surfaced during the confirmation event at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
In what felt a bit like a theatrical moment, the presiding priest invited any objections to the confirmation. He stated, “…this mandate is in order, and no one has appeared to voice any concerns.” Instantly, the cathedral’s priest shouted, “We did it!” provoking a swift removal by security. Undeterred, the ceremony carried on, with an official declaring that objections had been duly noted, but the process would continue regardless.
The protesting priest, Father Paul Williamson, a London chaplain retired against his will from the Church of England, expressed his concerns about the current archbishop’s handling of security during her time as Bishop of London.
Acknowledging the looming accusations against Mullaly, the Church of England released a statement ahead of the ceremony, assuring that security measures were handled “carefully and rigorously.”
Williamson had previously lodged a complaint in 2024 against Bishop Mullaly relevant to the suicide of London priest Fr Alan Griffin, alleging incompetence in handling reports of misconduct within the church. The Church of England ultimately dismissed his concerns regarding Mullaly’s qualifications.
This isn’t the first instance in which Williamson has challenged a bishop’s appointment. He previously made objections at the consecration of John Sentamu as Archbishop of York in 2005, citing Sentamu’s support for women priests. In 2015, he also voiced his disapproval of the consecration of Bishop Libby Lane, the Church of England’s first female bishop.
During Bishop Libby’s consecration, Williamson asserted, “No, it’s not in the Bible,” further exacerbating tensions. The presiding bishop, Sentamu, had paused for a moment but continued the service, ignoring Williamson’s protests. Church representatives later labeled him a “serial protester.”
Reflecting on his opposition in 2015, Williamson remarked that Bishop Libby had aimed to inspire women, though he continues to stand by his views regarding female leadership within the church.
