Dame Sarah Mullally Selected as Pioneering Female Leader of the Church of England

The Church of England has selected Sarah Mullally as the first female leader of the Church of England, with Downing Street announcing the top cleric of Canterbury almost twelve months following Justin Welby’s resignation following a safeguarding controversy.

This is the initial occasion an archbishop of Canterbury has been selected since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014.

The archbishop is regarded as the religious head of the Anglican church globally and additionally holds a position in the upper parliamentary chamber.

The York’s archbishop Stephen Cottrell handled key tasks in the interim, and was a participating elector of the group responsible for selecting the new leader.

The appointments commission had to approve the selection by a two-thirds majority vote. After agreement, as per protocol, the steps entail presenting a nominee to the prime minister – in this case Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.

She will not officially begin the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an enthronement service scheduled afterward, after homage is rendered to the monarch.