The Church of England has named Dame Sarah Mullally as its next Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman ever to hold the post.
Mullally, 63, was confirmed on Friday following approval from King Charles III, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England. A former chief nursing officer for England, Mullally was ordained in 2002 and rose quickly through the hierarchy, becoming Bishop of London in 2018.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior cleric in the Church of England and functions as a figurehead for the Anglican churches worldwide. The decision to appoint a woman is likely to deepen existing rifts within the Anglican Communion, particularly with provinces in Africa and Asia that have strongly opposed female bishops and liberal reforms.
Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned last year amid criticism of his handling of historic abuse scandals. She has positioned herself on the progressive wing of the church, backing blessings for same-sex couples and condemning Britain’s Rwanda asylum plan, though she remains opposed to assisted dying.
She will be formally installed in Canterbury Cathedral later this year.
