Sarah Mullally was appointed as the first woman in history to be the Archbishop of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally, 63 years old and the Bishop of London since 2018, was officially introduced as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, October 2nd, becoming the first woman in the 1400-year history of this position to lead the Church of Britain
She will also be the ceremonial head of approximately 85 million Anglican Christians worldwide, a community that is deeply divided between conservative factions, especially in Africa where homosexuality remains illegal in some countries, and more liberal factions in the West
The conservative group GAFCON, consisting of churches from Africa and Asia, immediately condemned this appointment, stating that the Church of Britain has abandoned its authority to lead
Mullally has previously supported reforms and liberal issues within the church, including holding blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples in marriage or civil partnerships. She was a former cancer nurse and the Chief Nursing Officer of Britain before becoming a priest in 2002 and a bishop in 2015
The official installation ceremony for Mullally in Canterbury Cathedral will be held in March 2026
Mullally lives with her husband Eamon and has two adult children