The Church of England has appointed Bishop Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the role in its more than 1,400-year history.
Mullally, 63, who has been Bishop of London since 2018, becomes the 106th holder of the office and spiritual leader of some 85 million Anglicans worldwide. She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned last November after criticism of his handling of historic sexual abuse cases linked to Christian summer camps.
A former cancer nurse and England’s chief nursing officer, Mullally is known as a reform-minded leader and outspoken advocate for women’s rights within the church. Her appointment, while historic, is expected to test unity across the Anglican Communion, where many provinces hold more conservative views than the Church of England.
Mullally takes office at a turbulent time for the denomination, facing divisions over same-sex marriage, declining attendance in Britain, and ongoing concerns over safeguarding.
