In a landmark decision marking a significant shift in the history of the Church of England, Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate. The appointment makes the 63-year-old the first woman ever chosen for the most senior spiritual leadership role in the global Anglican Communion, reported The WP Times with reference to BBC.
Dame Sarah brings a distinctive background to the position, having served for over 35 years in the National Health Service (NHS), culminating in her becoming the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999. She transitioned to ordained ministry, becoming a priest in 2006. Her trailblazing path continued when she was appointed the first female Bishop of London in 2018, making her the third most senior member of the Church of England's clergy.
Priorities and Public Statements
Speaking from Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, Dame Sarah set out an agenda that promises to confront the most pressing issues facing the Church. Acknowledging the legacy of deep harm and mistrust caused by past safeguarding failures, she promised a robust approach, stating, "we must all be willing to have light shone on our actions, regardless of our role in the Church." This commitment follows the resignation of her predecessor, Justin Welby, over a safeguarding scandal involving a damning report into the prolific child abuser John Smyth. Welby formally stepped down earlier this year, leaving the Church without its top leader for nearly a year.
In her initial public statement, the new Archbishop designate immediately addressed a matter of grave public concern, condemning the "horrific violence" of Thursday's deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester. She offered a powerful message of unity and solidarity, declaring, "we are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities," and affirming the Church's responsibility "to be a people who stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart."
Historical and Global Context
The appointment comes as the Church of England continues to navigate internal debates on gender and sexuality. The first women were ordained as priests in 1994, followed two decades later by the first female bishop appointments in 2014. Her selection, however, has drawn criticism from conservative wings of the Church. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which represents conservative views, noted that while some will welcome the news, "the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy."
Despite this, the appointment has been welcomed by political and royal figures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer extended his support, saying, "I wish her every success and look forward to working together." King Charles III, who is technically the head of the Church of England, also congratulated Dame Sarah on her new role, which Buckingham Palace described as being "of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion." The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Married with two children, Dame Sarah has a reputation for using her extensive experience leading complex organisations to modernise the dioceses she has served. She reflected on the significance of her role, noting that while young people she meets may not aspire to her specific title, being the first woman "does allow them to think there are possibilities for them to fulfil their dreams."
Before legally assuming her new role, which is expected to occur after a confirmation of election in January and a subsequent enthronement service, Dame Sarah must pay homage to the King. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, summarised the demands of the position by saying it requires a "newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other," acknowledging the heavy expectation to have an opinion on virtually everything.
Dame Sarah has also been a prominent voice on other ethical issues, including her strong opposition to assisted dying, which she previously described as "unworkable and unsafe and poses a risk to the most vulnerable people in our society." Furthermore, her time as Bishop of London saw her chair a body that helped steer the Church's decision to finally allow priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023, a decision she hailed as "a moment of hope for the Church."
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