Dame Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman to Lead the Church of England

London, Oct 2025 : In a landmark moment for the 1,500-year-old Church of England, Dame Sarah Mullally, a former nurse and senior bishop, has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate — making her the first woman to hold the Church’s most senior spiritual role.

The post, which had remained vacant for nearly a year after Justin Welby’s resignation, was formally announced on Friday, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles III extending their congratulations.

From Nursing to the Pulpit

At 63, Mullally brings a unique mix of professional and pastoral experience to the position. She served more than three decades in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), rising to become the Chief Nursing Officer, before pursuing a clerical vocation. Ordained as a priest in 2006, she quickly rose through the Church ranks and, in 2018, was appointed as the first female Bishop of London — the third most senior clerical office in the Church of England.

Speaking to the BBC, Mullally reflected on her unusual journey:

“I have had experiences as a nurse leading complex organisations, as the government’s chief nursing officer, and also in overseeing a diocese as diverse as London. Those roles have prepared me for some of this work. But I also recognise I cannot do it alone. I need to work with colleagues and the wider church community.”

Historic First

Though the British monarch is technically the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury holds enormous spiritual influence as the Church’s senior bishop and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Women were first ordained priests in the Church of England only in 1994, and it took another two decades before the first female bishops were consecrated in 2014. Mullally’s elevation to Archbishop therefore represents a significant milestone for women’s leadership within Anglicanism.

Acknowledging the significance of her appointment, Mullally said:

“Being the first woman is historic. When I visit schools, I notice how young women in particular sit up and listen. They may not want to be bishops or archbishops, but they do begin to see possibilities for themselves — that they can pursue their dreams.”

Reactions and Controversy

Prime Minister Starmer praised her appointment, saying he looked forward to working with her, while Buckingham Palace issued a statement from King Charles III expressing best wishes for her success “in a role of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion.”

However, the decision has not been without criticism. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a conservative network, expressed opposition, arguing that “the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.”

This reaction underscores continuing divisions within the global Anglican community over the ordination and leadership of women.

A Troubled Inheritance

Mullally takes over at a difficult moment for the Church. Her predecessor, Archbishop Justin Welby, resigned following a safeguarding scandal linked to failures in addressing child abuse within church institutions. A recent report found that he had not reported the misconduct of a prolific abuser to the police, leading to widespread criticism and calls for greater accountability.

Since Welby’s departure, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has carried out many of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s responsibilities in an interim capacity, though he too has faced scrutiny over his handling of an abuse case.

Looking Forward

Mullally will formally assume her role after the confirmation of election in January, followed by an enthronement ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral, where she will also pay homage to King Charles III. Until then, she remains the Bishop of London while preparing for the transition.

Her first public statement as Archbishop-designate addressed current social tensions, as she condemned the violent attack on a Manchester synagogue on Thursday:

“Hatred and racism cannot tear us apart.”

With her historic appointment, Mullally steps into a role steeped in tradition yet facing modern challenges — from healing divisions within Anglicanism to addressing declining church attendance and rebuilding trust after years of scandal.

For many, her rise from nurse to the most senior cleric in the Church of England is not just symbolic but a reminder that leadership, compassion, and faith can come from unexpected paths.