Sarah Mullally Named as Incoming Spiritual Leader of Canterbury

The 63-year-old former NHS chief nurse has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - making history as the first woman to be picked for this prestigious role.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the sixty-three-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was appointed as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of clergy in the Anglican Church.

This signifies the initial occasion in nearly 500 years of history that the Church has selected a female to guide its direction.

Historic Appointment

The Anglican Church has been without someone in the senior role for almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over a protection controversy.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a prolific child abuser linked to the Church. The report found that he "could and should" have notified authorities about the misconduct by John Smyth of boys and young men to law enforcement in 2013.

The Archbishop of York assumed most of Mr Welby's duties in an interim move, and was one of the voting members of the body charged with selecting his replacement.

Official Procedure

In line with tradition, the procedure of selecting a spiritual leader involves a name being given to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then passed to the sovereign.

Sir Keir has applauded the selection of Dame Sarah, saying: "The Archbishop of Canterbury will serve an important function in our country's affairs. I wish her every success and look forward to working together."

While, technically, the monarch is leader of the Anglican Church, the individual holding the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking cleric and is the spiritual leader of the religious institution and the global Anglican community.

Royal and Global Reaction

The monarch has congratulated the new Archbishop on her appointment, "which is of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion", Buckingham Palace announced.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which advocates for traditional positions, has criticised the appointment, saying that although some will welcome it, "most members of the global church still maintains that the Bible mandates a all-male bishopric."

Transition Period

She does not legally take on her new role until a confirmation of election in the new year, and an enthronement service comes subsequently, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a declaration on the announcement day after her new role was confirmed, she commented: "I know this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a feeling of calm and faith in divine guidance to support me as has consistently occurred."

Speaking from the historic church, she noted that "in an age that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, the Anglican tradition offers something quieter but stronger."

Addressing Violence

Addressing the "terrible attack" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in Manchester, she stated "we are witnessing prejudice that rises up through divisions across our society."

She continued: "We then as a Church have a duty to be a people who support the Jewish community against antisemitism in every manifestation. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart."

Background and Career

A mother of two, she devoted more than three decades in the National Health Service, achieving the position of the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the religious community at the time, it was just a few years later that she decided to become a clergy member and was promptly assigned helping make reforms in the way the organization dealt with abuse.

In that year she became financial administrator at the historic church before becoming Bishop of Crediton in the regional church administration in 2015.

As Bishop of London she was regarded as someone who applied her background as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Guiding Principles

"People frequently inquire what it has been like to have had two careers, initially in the NHS and currently in the religious institution.

"I like to consider that I have always had a single calling: to pursue Christian faith, to know him and to share his message, continually striving to live with compassion in the service of others, whether as a nurse, a religious leader, or a church official."

Future Challenges

Possibly the most urgent thing in her in-tray is still to chart a better path towards addressing abuse and approaching with greater empathy those affected by it.

There has also been a decline in religious participation, though London has to a degree resisted this pattern.

One of the areas she has been most outspoken about is assisted dying - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When legislation was approved in the Commons, she characterized it as "impractical and dangerous and creates danger to the most vulnerable people in our community."

Modern Positions

Among her responsibilities as Bishop of London was to lead a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to sanction gay unions.

She characterized the decision to ultimately permit priests to sanction gay relationships in last year as "a moment of hope for the Church."

A former Archbishop, summarised her new role as requiring a "awareness of current affairs and a Bible in the other."

The former spiritual leader explained to media outlets "the expectation of having an position on all matters is quite heavy."