History has been made in the Church of England as King Charles III approved the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold the post in its 1,400-year history.
Mullally will formally assume office in January 2026.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the appointment, describing the Church of England as an institution that is of “profound importance” to the country.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,” Starmer added.
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Lord Evans of Weardale, chair of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury, also pledged his support.
“I will be praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months,” Weardale promised.
A Historic Journey from Nursing to the Church
Before entering the clergy, Dame Sarah had a distinguished career in healthcare. She served as England’s Chief Nursing Officer, the youngest person to ever hold the post. Recognised for her contributions to nursing and midwifery, she was made a Dame in 2005.
Ordained in 2001, she left government service in 2004 to pursue full-time ministry in Sutton, south London. She trained for ordination at the South East Institute of Theological Education and studied at South Bank University and Heythrop College.
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In 2017, Dame Sarah became the Bishop of London, the Church of England’s third most senior clerical office. At the time, she reflected on her dual vocation:
“I prefer to think that I have always had one vocation: to follow Jesus Christ, to know him and to make him known—whether as a nurse, a priest, or a bishop.”
Progressive Leadership and Church Reform
Seen as a steady leader with strong administrative skills, Dame Sarah has often been viewed as a “safe pair of hands.” She is also considered progressive on some of the Church’s most debated issues.
Following the 2023 Synod vote to allow blessings for same-sex couples, she described the move as “a moment of hope for the Church,” while acknowledging continuing divisions within the Anglican Communion.
Succeeding Justin Welby Amid Safeguarding Crisis
Her appointment comes after nearly a year-long vacancy, following the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby. His departure was overshadowed by criticism of the Church’s handling of failures, including the Makin Review which found Welby had failed to alert authorities in 2013 over allegations against barrister John Smyth.
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Welby later admitted personal and institutional responsibility, expressing a “profound sense of shame” for the harm caused to survivors.
A Seat in the House of Lords
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah will automatically take her place in the House of Lords. She has already served there since 2018 as a senior bishop.
Her formal confirmation, known as the “confirmation of election,” will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in January. From that point, she will legally become Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
