By Our Reporter
Sarah Mullally has been named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion in its history.
Her nomination by a committee tasked with finding a successor to Justin Welby — who resigned earlier this year over an abuse scandal — was confirmed by King Charles III, the UK government announced on Friday.
Mullally, 63, is the Church of England’s 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, a role that dates back to the late sixth century. In a statement, the former nurse acknowledged the “huge responsibility” of her new position but expressed confidence, saying she felt “peace and trust in God to carry me.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the appointment, calling the Church of England “of profound importance to this country” and praising its role in communities through churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities.
Welby stepped down following revelations that the church had covered up abuse by John Smyth, a lawyer who organized evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s. An independent report found Smyth abused as many as 130 boys and young men. He died in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation but never faced criminal charges.
The Church of England, the mother church of global Anglicanism, has about 20 million baptized members, though regular church attendance in 2022 was just under one million.
Mullally’s appointment follows a long selection process overseen by a former head of MI5. Ordained in 2002, she became the first female Bishop of London in 2018. The Church only began allowing women bishops in 2014, after decades of internal debate. Today, more than 40 of England’s 108 bishops are women, with a similar proportion among priests.
The Anglican Communion counts about 85 million members in over 165 countries, with some provinces — including the United States — having allowed women bishops for decades.