Dame Sarah Mullally named as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England’s history.

The former chief nursing officer for England is now Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, ahead of a legal ceremony expected in the coming months to confirm her position as the Church’s top bishop.

She replaces Justin Welby, who was forced to stand down last year over his handling of the Church of England’s worst child abuse scandal.

Dame Sarah will have to steer the church through a challenging time – fraught with safeguarding scandals, divisions over same-sex marriage and dwindling attendance.

This morning, she acknowledged the ‘huge responsibility’ of her new role, but said she feels a sense of ‘peace and trust in God to carry me’.

‘As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager,’ she said.

‘At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.

‘I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ, and for it to shape our actions.

‘And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.

‘I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has.’

Dame Sarah is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, with the role having been vacant since last November.

Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, said: ‘I welcome and commend the nomination of Bishop Sarah as the next Archbishop of Canterbury and invite the churches of the global Anglican Communion to pray for her as she prepares to take up this important ministry.

‘May God grant her wisdom and discernment, as she seeks to listen to Member churches, encourage mutual support, and foster unity.

‘The Anglican Communion Office is fully committed to supporting her ministry as she works with other Provinces and the Instruments of the Anglican Communion.

‘Let us pray that God will pour out His Spirit on the Anglican Communion to boldly share Christ’s transformational love and the hope of the Gospel in today’s world.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘I welcome the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the role.

‘The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.

‘The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together.’