The Church of England has appointed Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time a woman will hold the Church’s highest office.
Mullally, 63, currently the Bishop of London, will succeed Justin Welby, who resigned last year following a child abuse cover-up scandal.
As the new spiritual leader of more than 85 million Anglicans worldwide, she inherits a deeply divided Communion, fractured over issues such as the role of women in ministry and the Church’s stance on same-sex relationships.
Addressing worshippers for the first time at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, Mullally spoke of “hope amid uncertainty” and reaffirmed her commitment to faith and compassion. “My first calling is to follow Christ and to share His message,” she said, while also reflecting on pressing national concerns — including migration and the synagogue attack in Manchester on Thursday that left two people dead.
“We are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities,” she told the congregation. “God draws near to those who suffer. As a Church, we must stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart.”
Her appointment has drawn sharp criticism from conservative Anglican leaders, particularly in Africa. The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) — which includes bishops from Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda — warned that the decision could deepen existing rifts within the Communion, accusing Mullally of supporting “unbiblical and revisionist teachings on marriage and sexual morality.”
“The majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that scripture calls for a male-only episcopacy,” said Reverend Laurent Mbanda, speaking for the group.
The evangelical wing of the Church of England also voiced concern, urging a halt to what it called “a drift away from scripture.”
Despite the controversy, Mullally has received support from both secular and religious figures. The Vatican extended its congratulations, while King Charles III formally approved her appointment and offered his best wishes.
Mullally will be formally enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony in January 2026.
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