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Sarah Mullally Named First Woman Archbishop of Canterbury After King’s Approval

The archbishop-designate confronts deep Anglican rifts with a pressing safeguarding mandate.

Overview

  • Downing Street confirmed her appointment on October 3 following approval by King Charles III, making the Bishop of London the archbishop-designate.
  • She will take office after election by the College of Canons, legal confirmation by an ecclesiastical court, homage to the monarch, and a formal installation expected in the spring.
  • Conservative Anglican blocs, including GAFCON and the Global South, signaled non-recognition over women’s leadership and her support for same-sex blessings, while figures such as Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Church of England bishops welcomed the choice.
  • The safeguarding failures that culminated in Justin Welby’s resignation remain a priority, with survivor remedies expected to be in place before her installation.
  • A former NHS chief nursing officer and the first woman to serve as Bishop of London, Mullally is expected to have a relatively short tenure of about six years before retirement.