Originally published on Word from the Bird. Republished with permission. Picture by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, has been appointed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to hold this ancient office in the 1,400-year existence of the English episcopate. Her appointment was approved by King Charles III, the supreme governor of the Church of England, following the recommendation of the Crown Nominations Commission, and she will be installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.
Who is Sarah Mullally?
Bishop Sarah Mullally brings an extraordinary and unconventional background to Lambeth Palace. Before her ordination in 2001, she served as the Chief Nursing Officer for England. Her career as a cancer nurse profoundly shaped her vocation, and she has described nursing as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God”.
Mullally’s theological education took place at South Bank University, London, Heythrop College, and the South East Institute of Theological Education (not the usual places like Wycliffe or St. John’s). She was ordained as a priest in 2002 and served in various capacities, including Team Rector at Christ Church, Sutton, and Canon Residentiary and Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral. In 2015, she was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter, before becoming the first female Bishop of London in 2018.
Huzzah! But is everyone celebrating?
Her Leadership and Theological Approach
As Bishop of London, Mullally has demonstrated significant administrative capability, having been tasked with modernising and professionalising what had been described as a diocese riven with factions between warring theological tribes and dogged by safeguarding troubles. Her NHS leadership experience equipped her for this managerial challenge, though her bureaucratic approach has raised some complaints, particularly among traditionalists.
Mullally is described as “a theological liberal” by the Financial Times, and is a confessed feminist, while also supporting the inclusion of those who reject women’s ordination. She has stated her commitment to being “very respectful of those who, for theological reasons, cannot accept my role as a priest or a bishop,” emphasising that “Church diversity throughout London should flourish and grow.” She supports the Church of England’s current teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman for life, though she has advocated for inclusive pastoral care for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Crucially, Mullally led the Living in Love and Faith project for many years, a church-wide consultation exploring questions around marriage and sexuality. This work eventually led to the Prayers of Love and Faith, services of blessings for same-sex couples now available in Church of England parishes.
What to Expect from Her Archiepiscopate
In her first statement following the appointment, Mullally emphasised continuity in her vocation: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.” She highlighted her commitment to listening deeply “to people and to God’s gentle prompting” and seeking “to bring people together to find hope and healing.”
Mullally has articulated her desire “to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.” Her nursing background and administrative experience suggest she will bring a pastoral, relational, and managerial approach to leadership.
The challenges facing her are substantial: divisions over the treatment of women and LGBTQ+ people, ongoing safeguarding concerns, declining attendance, and the need to navigate profound global uncertainty. She inherits the position from Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned following revelations that he failed to adequately pursue investigations into abuse allegations.
Will She Be a Force for Unity in the Anglican Communion?
This is perhaps the most critical question facing Mullally’s election, and the answer is unclear. The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a grouping of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia representing what they claim is the majority of worldwide Anglicans, issued a strongly worded statement in response to her appointment. GAFCON declared that “Today’s appointment makes it clearer than ever before that Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead. The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of Gafcon, and we are ready to take the lead.” Strong words indeed!
My View
I am delighted that we have the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, though I understand not everyone will be elated at the prospect of a woman ABC.
Look, at the end of the day, Mullally’s capacity to be a unifying figure will likely depend on her ability to listen, respect theological diversity, and navigate the tension between progressive Western provinces and conservative Global South churches. Her stated commitment to respecting those who disagree with her theologically, combined with her administrative competence and pastoral background, may provide resources for hope. But really, it’s a hope that the Church of England and the Anglican Communion will not fall apart and divide into two separate communions on her watch. The persistent problem will be her association with the Prayers of Love and Faith, which is so vague and vacuous, and represents a significant barrier to reconciliation with Church of England conservatives and the Global South.
The reality is that fractures in the Anglican Communion predate Mullally’s appointment. Whether she can serve as a force for unity or will preside over further fragmentation remains to be seen. Much will depend on whether she prioritises institutional cohesion over progressive partisanship, and whether conservative Anglicans are willing to remain in communion with a female primate who is somewhat vague on same-sex blessings. Early indications suggest the path ahead will be difficult, requiring extraordinary grace, wisdom, and diplomatic skill to prevent further division in the global Anglican family.
In any case, all Anglicans should pray for Bishop Sarah to have grace, wisdom, and discernment in her leadership for the future.
Rev Dr Michael Bird is Deputy Principal: Academic and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of over thirty books, including Evangelical Theology, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible, Romans (SGBC), The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus, What Christians Ought To Believe, and with N.T. Wright, The New Testament in its World.
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