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In a historic move, a woman is appointed head of the Church of England

2025-10-03 17:41:50Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
In a historic move, a woman is appointed head of the Church of England
Sarah Mullally

Sarah Mullally was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, becoming the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide and the first woman to hold the role in the institution's 1,400-year history.

Mullally, 63, was appointed Bishop of London in 2018, the third-highest post in the Church of England after the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Before her ordination, she worked as a nurse in London hospitals and later served as Chief Nursing Officer for England.

"As I respond to Christ's call to this new ministry, I do so with the same spirit of service to God and others that has motivated me since I came to faith as a teenager ," Mullally said.

"At every stage of this journey, through my career as a nurse and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen carefully, to people and to God's gentle nudge, to bring people together and bring hope and healing."

Mullally will lead an institution that is struggling to remain relevant in an increasingly secular society, trying to overcome divisions between the conservative and liberal wings, as well as restore trust after a scandal over the cover-up of child abuse.

Justin Welby, the previous archbishop, resigned last year after failing to report John Smyth, accused of physically and sexually abusing dozens of boys in the 1970s and 1980s, including those he met at Christian camps.

An independent report found that in 2013, the Church of England “had knowledge, at the highest level”, of Smyth’s abuses, including Welby, who became archbishop that year.

According to church historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, Welby's resignation was "historic and without precise precedent in the 1,427-year history of the Archbishops of Canterbury", as no previous archbishop had resigned over neglect of sexual abuse. "Our history of failures to protect the vulnerable has left a legacy of deep damage and distrust," Mullally said after her appointment.

"As archbishop, my commitment will be to listen to victims, care for the vulnerable, and create a culture of safety and well-being for all."

Mullally's rise to the post was made possible only by reforms introduced by Welby, who allowed women to be ordained as bishops a decade ago. Although Mullally is regarded as a capable administrator and prepared for difficult times, the appointment of a woman has caused discontent among the church's more conservative faction.

"Today's appointment makes it clearer than ever that Canterbury has relinquished the authority to lead," said GAFCON, a group of Anglican churches in Africa and Asia, regions where congregations have grown in recent years.

Because of the spread of Christianity during the British Empire, most Anglicans, about three in four, live not in Britain but in its former colonies. Analysts say this has shifted the faith's center of gravity towards the more conservative global south, deepening divisions with the more liberal West.

For years, Mullally has led the church's process of exploring issues of marriage and sexuality, and has supported allowing blessings for same-sex couples in the church. She is known as a strong administrator who has modernized the London diocese and played a leading role in the church's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most public figure in an institution struggling to remain relevant in a more secular society. The Archbishop is often invited to speak at important national occasions, presiding over major royal events, including the recent coronation of King Charles.

Candidates for Archbishop of Canterbury are selected by the Crown Appointments Commission, a body chaired by Jonathan Evans, the former director of MI5, Britain's domestic security service. The commission, made up of 17 voting members, decides on the preferred candidate, to whom Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives his approval.

However, it is King Charles, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, who officially appoints the archbishop. The British monarch's role dates back to when King Henry VIII broke away from the authority of the pope and declared himself head of the new church.

In July, Evans had stated that he wanted to avoid a list of candidates “all white, Oxbridge-educated, male and from the south-east of England”. He said he had “a desire for someone who can provide real spiritual leadership and direction for the church”, and who can “speak with authority and grace with a Christian voice on the affairs of the nation”.

Announcing Mullally's appointment, Evans thanked members of the public who shared their thoughts on the church's leadership in a public consultation earlier this year. "I will be praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take on this new ministry in the coming months," he said.

Mullally will be formally installed in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026, becoming the 106th archbishop since St. Augustine arrived in Kent from Rome in 597. She will lead efforts to address declining numbers of believers, including reaching out to young people, as well as financial challenges.


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