In a historic event, Sarah Mullally becomes the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a significant milestone for the Church of England.
Sarah Mullally, a former nurse, was officially installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury on March 26, 2026, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the Church of England. The ceremony took place at Canterbury Cathedral and was attended by 2,000 guests, including Britain's Prince William, his wife Catherine, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Ceremony Details
During the event, Mullally sat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine and delivered her inaugural sermon, expressing her commitment to her role. She prayed for peace in conflict zones such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar, while acknowledging the Church of England's past safeguarding failures that led to her predecessor's resignation.
Mullally, aged 63, legally assumed the role in January 2026 but the installation symbolized the start of her public ministry. She wore a golden mitre and a cope modeled on her former nursing belt, and used a ring given to a predecessor by Pope Paul VI in 1966, signifying improved Anglican-Catholic relations.
As Archbishop, Mullally leads the global Anglican Communion, which has approximately 85 million members worldwide. The Church of England has a history of advancing women's roles, having ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
The ceremony incorporated diverse elements, including prayers and readings in multiple languages such as Urdu, and featured children greeting Mullally at the cathedral's west door. It coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation, emphasizing themes from biblical accounts.
Despite her appointment, tensions persist within the Anglican Communion, with some conservative groups criticizing women's leadership. However, recent developments include the abandonment of plans for a rival figurehead by the Global Anglican Future Conference.
