Anglican Church names first female Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally

A woman has been named to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury for the first time in the history of the Church of England and even the Anglican Communion.

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, will be installed into the church’s most senior role in March 2026.

Mullally is the first female Archbishop of Canterbury to be chosen since women were allowed to become bishops in 2014.

As Archbishop of Canterbury, she will become the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide and the first woman to hold the role in its 1,400-year history.

Mullally, 63, was made Bishop of London in 2018 and before her ordained ministry, was a nurse in the NHS (including St Thomas’ and Royal Marsden Hospitals).

She became Chief Nursing Officer for England in 1999 at a relatively young age.

In 2005 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her services to nursing and midwifery.

Ordained deacon in 2001, priest in 2002.

She has served as Curate at Battersea Fields (Southwark Diocese) (2001–2006); Team Rector at Sutton in Southwark (2006–2012); Canon Residentiary and Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral (2012–2015).

She became Bishop of Crediton (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Exeter) from 2015. She was one of the early women bishops in the Church of England.

In December 2017 it was announced she would become Bishop of London, one of the most senior positions in the Church of England. Her election was confirmed in 2018, and she was installed in May 2018.

Now she is the first Female Archbishop of Canterbury

On Friday, 3rd October 2025, it was announced that she has been nominated/selected as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Officially, she will not legally take on the role until a confirmation of election, expected in January 2026, with an enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral to follow.