In a ceremony that marks a definitive turning point in the 1,400-year history of the Church of England, Dame Sarah Mullally was officially installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury today, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The event, held at Canterbury Cathedral on the Feast of the Annunciation, signals the beginning of her public ministry as the spiritual leader of the world’s 85 million Anglicans.
Mullally, 63, succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in late 2024. Her elevation represents the swiftest rise in the Church’s history, coming just over a decade after the Church of England consecrated its first female bishop in 2015.
From Nursing to the Pulpit
Archbishop Mullally’s path to the highest ecclesiastical office in England is as unconventional as it is historic. Before answering the call to ministry, she had a distinguished career in the National Health Service (NHS). A former cancer nurse, she rose to become the Chief Nursing Officer for England at the age of 37—the youngest person ever to hold the post.
She was ordained as a priest in 2002 and served as the Bishop of London starting in 2018. In a symbolic nod to her past, the clasp on her coronation cope and mitre was fashioned from the very belt buckle she wore during her years as a nurse.
A Ceremony of "Firsts"
The installation ceremony was attended by a global assembly of dignitaries, including Prince William and Princess Catherine, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and faith leaders from the Vatican and Orthodox churches.
Key highlights of the historic service included:
The Knock at the Door: Following tradition, Mullally struck the Great West Door of the cathedral to gain entry, a moment broadcast to millions worldwide.
The Saint John’s Bible: For the first time in history, the Archbishop took her oath on the Saint John’s Bible, a hand-illuminated, modern manuscript commissioned by a Benedictine monastery.
The Two Chairs: She was seated first in the Quire Cathedra as the Bishop of Canterbury and then in the ancient Chair of St. Augustine, marking her role as the Primate of All England.
Navigating a Divided Communion
While the atmosphere in Canterbury was one of celebration, Mullally steps into the role during a period of significant theological tension. Her appointment has been met with "principled disengagement" from several conservative provinces in the Global South, who maintain that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.
Addressing these divisions in her inaugural sermon, Mullally pledged to be a "shepherd who enables everyone's ministry to flourish," regardless of their theological tradition. She emphasized a commitment to transparency and safeguarding, acknowledging the need for the Church to heal following the abuse scandals that led to her predecessor's resignation.
A New Era for Anglicanism
As the first woman to hold the "Apostle to the English" title, Mullally’s leadership is expected to focus on social justice, inclusivity, and modernization of the Church's reach in a secular age. "I am a woman, a nurse, and a priest," she told reporters. "I bring all of those parts of me to this office to serve a world that is often fragile and burdened."
English (US) ·