Dame Sarah Mullally Selected as Incoming Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - making history as the initial female to be picked for this prestigious role.

A former NHS chief nurse, the 63-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was appointed as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of clergy in the Anglican Church.

This represents the initial occasion in nearly 500 years of tradition that the Church has chosen a female to lead it.

Groundbreaking Appointment

The Anglican Church has been without someone in the senior role for almost a year after the previous Archbishop stepped down over a safeguarding scandal.

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 reported John Smyth's abuse of boys and young men to law enforcement in 2013.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell assumed most of the former Archbishop's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was one of the voting members of the committee charged with choosing his successor.

Political Process

Following established custom, the process of choosing a new archbishop involves a name being presented to the Prime Minister and then forwarded to the sovereign.

Sir Keir has applauded Dame Sarah's appointment, stating: "This position will play a key role in our national life. I offer my best wishes and look forward to collaborating."

While, technically, the monarch is head of the Church of England, the person holding the role of spiritual leader is the most senior bishop and is the religious guide of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Royal and International Reaction

King Charles III has praised Dame Sarah on her new role, "a position of great significance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", Buckingham Palace announced.

The international conservative Anglican group, which advocates for traditional positions, has questioned the selection, stating that although certain groups support the decision, "the majority of the global church still believes that the Bible mandates a male-only episcopacy."

Transition Period

She does not legally take on her position until a confirmation of election in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes subsequently, after they have pledged allegiance to the King.

In a declaration on Friday after her appointment was confirmed, she stated: "I recognize this is a significant undertaking but I undertake it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as has consistently occurred."

Addressing media at the historic church, she noted that "during a period that craves certainty and tribalism, Anglicanism offers something quieter but stronger."

Addressing Violence

Talking about the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester, she stated "we are witnessing hatred that emerges through fractures across our communities."

She added: "The religious community have a responsibility to be a people who support the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in all its forms. Prejudice and discrimination 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 NHS, becoming the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for the country in 1999.

While serving voluntarily in the Church at the time, it was just a short time after that she decided to become a priest and was quickly tasked with helping implement changes in the way the institution addressed misconduct.

In that year she became canon treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral before becoming diocesan leader in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was regarded as someone who applied her background as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Guiding Principles

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and currently in the religious institution.

"I prefer to think that I have consistently maintained one vocation: to pursue Christian faith, to understand his teachings 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 bishop."

Future Challenges

Perhaps the most urgent thing in her in-tray is still to develop improved approaches towards addressing abuse and approaching with greater empathy those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a decline in church attendance, though London has to a degree bucked that trend.

A particular subject she has been most outspoken about is end-of-life choices - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When the law was approved in the House of Commons, she described it as "unworkable and unsafe and creates danger to the most vulnerable people in our society."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as Bishop of London was to chair a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She characterized the decision to ultimately permit priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023 as "an optimistic development for the religious community."

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

The former spiritual leader explained to journalists "the pressure of having an position on all matters is quite heavy."