A monumental announcement came from the Church of England on Friday: Sarah Mullally, currently the Bishop of London, will assume the prestigious role of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. This historic appointment means she will serve as the spiritual head for 85 million Anglicans globally, shattering a 1,400-year tradition to become the first woman ever to lead the church.
Bishop Mullally steps into this pivotal role following the resignation of Justin Welby last November. His departure came after a damning report revealed a failure to adequately investigate widespread claims of abuse against boys and young men that occurred decades earlier at Christian summer camps.
At 63, Bishop Mullally brings a unique background to the position. Before her ecclesiastical career, she was a dedicated cancer nurse and even served as England’s chief nursing officer. Within the Church of England, she is renowned as a fervent champion for women’s rights, having already made history as the first female Bishop of London since 2018.
While the selection of a female archbishop wasn’t entirely unexpected, given that two other women bishops were also on the shortlist, this decision nonetheless ushers in a transformative era for the church. It may, however, spark significant debate and potential friction within the diverse and geographically widespread Anglican Communion, where some factions hold more traditional views than the Church of England.
Archbishop Welby’s departure marked an sudden conclusion to a tenure rich with significant public events. He notably led the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, and was a prominent voice on pressing societal matters, including immigration.
Despite not being personally implicated in abuse, Archbishop Welby’s downfall was a consequence of the very kind of sex-abuse scandal that has similarly destabilized the Roman Catholic Church. His legacy includes a church grappling with the stain of this scandal, profound internal divisions over the recognition of same-sex marriages, and a broader struggle to maintain attendance in an increasingly secular society.
Bishop Mullally now faces the immense task of rebuilding trust in the church’s commitment to protecting young people and healing deep-seated disagreements on marriage and other theological matters. Furthermore, she must navigate the complexities of an often-divided Anglican Communion. Many conservative bishops across Latin America, Asia, and Africa have previously expressed dissent against the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is traditionally seen as a symbolic leader among equals.