Trending Now - Church of England Appoints Its First Female Archbishop
WHO:
Sarah Mullally, 63, is the first woman to lead the Church of England as archbishop of Canterbury.
The installation ceremony was attended by approximately 2,000 guests, including Prince William, Princess Catherine, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sarah Mullally, 63, is the first woman to lead the Church of England as archbishop of Canterbury.
Prince William and Princess Catherine attended the installation ceremony.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was present at the ceremony.
Stephen Cottrell, archbishop of York, commented on the occasion.
Reverend Emily Onyango, assistant bishop of the Diocese of Bondo, and Vicentia Kgabe, bishop of Pretoria, were also mentioned.
George Gross, an expert on theology and the monarchy at King’s College London, provided commentary on Mullally's appointment.
WHAT:
Mullally took her seat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine during the installation ceremony.
Mullally stated, "As I begin my ministry today as archbishop of Canterbury, I say again to God: ‘Here I am’."
The service included prayers and readings in multiple languages, including Bemba and Spanish.
Sarah Mullally was installed as archbishop of Canterbury, marking the beginning of her public ministry.
The installation ceremony lasted 90 minutes and included Mullally knocking three times on the west door of Canterbury Cathedral.
Mullally becomes the 106th person to hold the position of archbishop of Canterbury.
The Anglican Communion has more than 100 million members.
Mullally stated, "I intend to be a shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever our tradition."
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
Mullally replaces Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024.
WHERE:
The installation ceremony took place at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England.
Mullally was born in Woking, southwest of London.
WHEN:
The installation ceremony occurred on March 25th, 2026, which coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation.
The installation ceremony occurred on March 25th, 2026.
Mullally was appointed to the role in October 2025.
Mullally formally became archbishop of Canterbury in January 2026.
Justin Welby announced his resignation in November 2024.
WHY:
Mullally acknowledged the church's past safeguarding failures and emphasized the need for "truth, compassion, justice and action."
Mullally's appointment is seen as a historic moment for the Church of England, which has only allowed women to become priests since 1994 and bishops since 2015.
The church has faced criticism over its handling of sexual abuse scandals.
HOW:
Mullally wore a ceremonial cloak secured by a clasp modeled on the belt she wore as a National Health Service nurse.
She also wore a ring given to one of her predecessors, Michael Ramsey, by Pope Paul VI in 1966, symbolizing improving ties between Anglicans and Catholics.
Mullally walked 87 miles from London to Canterbury prior to her installation, a journey referenced in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales."
The ceremony included prayers and readings in multiple languages, including Spanish, Swahili, and Urdu.
(UPDATED March 26, 2026 11:17 UTC)
On March 25, 2026, Sarah Mullally made history as the first woman to lead the Church of England, taking her seat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine during a ceremony attended by around 2,000 guests, including Prince William, Princess Catherine, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the service, which featured prayers and readings in multiple languages, Mullally expressed her commitment to her new role by stating, "As I begin my ministry today as archbishop of Canterbury, I say again to God: ‘Here I am’," while also acknowledging the church's past safeguarding failures and the need for truth, compassion, justice, and action. Dressed in a ceremonial cloak secured by a clasp reminiscent of her time as a National Health Service nurse, Mullally also wore a significant ring given to a predecessor by Pope Paul VI, symbolizing the ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between Anglicans and Catholics.
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(UPDATED March 26, 2026 00:18 UTC)
On March 25, 2026, Sarah Mullally was installed as the first woman archbishop of Canterbury during a 90-minute ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral, attended by Prince William, Princess Catherine, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mullally, who walked 87 miles from London to Canterbury before her installation, expressed her commitment to being a shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry to flourish, marking a historic moment for the Church of England, which has only allowed women to become priests since 1994. As the 106th archbishop, she succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024, and her appointment comes at a time when the church faces scrutiny over its handling of past scandals.