LONDON: The Church of England has appointed Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold the position of ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Her historic appointment, announced on Friday by the office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and formally assented to by King Charles, has been widely welcomed in Britain but has sparked immediate criticism among conservative Anglican leaders, particularly in Africa.
Mullally, 63, a former cancer nurse and England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s, has served as Bishop of London since 2018. Ordained in 2002 and consecrated as one of the Church’s first female bishops in 2015, she has been known for championing same-sex blessings a stance that continues to divide the global Communion.
While addressing worshippers at Canterbury Cathedral, Mullally said her focus would be on enabling every ministry to flourish. Whatever our tradition, my role is to help ensure the Church reflects Christ’s love, she said.
Speaking on same-sex relationships, she acknowledged the Church had long struggled with the issue. It may not be resolved quickly, she told Reuters.
Reactions, however, underscored the deep rift within global Anglicanism. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda and head of a bloc of conservative churches, said Mullally’s leadership would not heal divisions.
In Nigeria, Bishop Funkuro Godrules Victor Amgbare of Northern Izon described the appointment as dangerous, insisting that women should not lead the Church.
The Vatican, while noting the Anglican Communion’s challenges, welcomed the appointment in a statement, though it reiterated its opposition to ordaining women priests.
Mullally’s priorities also include confronting the Church’s history of child abuse cover-ups, improving safeguarding structures, and addressing antisemitism, following Thursday’s deadly synagogue attack in Manchester.
The Church of England, which broke from Roman Catholicism nearly 500 years ago, has ordained women as priests for over three decades and bishops for just over a decade.
Yet these reforms have been firmly rejected by many Anglican provinces in Africa and Asia.
Mullally, who is married with two adult children, said her background in nursing and Christian ministry share the same foundation: It’s all about people, and being present in their most difficult moments.
Her appointment follows the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, who stepped down after facing criticism for his handling of abuse scandals and his activist role on social issues.
Analysts say Mullally’s tenure will test her leadership skills, as she balances calls for reform in England with the resistance of more conservative voices abroad.
