October 3, 2025 – In a historic moment for the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion, Dame Sarah Mullally was named the next Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday. She is the first woman to assume the role of spiritual leader of the Anglican Church worldwide.
At 63, Mullally brings a distinguished background in both healthcare and ecclesiastical leadership, having previously served as England’s Chief Nursing Officer before becoming Bishop of London in 2018.
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Her appointment marks a seismic shift for a denomination long divided over the role of women, same-sex marriage, and broader questions of biblical interpretation. While celebrated by many in Britain and across progressive Anglican circles, Mullally’s elevation has already provoked strong criticism from conservative leaders, particularly in Africa. This underscores the deep fractures within the global Communion. Sarah Mullally being named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury illustrates this division.
A Groundbreaking Appointment
The Archbishop of Canterbury is more than just a symbolic role. As the ceremonial head of the 85-million-strong Anglican Communion, the Archbishop helps set the tone for theological direction, moral leadership, and global unity. Mullally, known for her calm, compassionate leadership, supports inclusive policies within the Church. She is now the first woman ever to hold the role since the Communion’s formation in the 16th century.
In her first address as Archbishop-designate, Mullally struck a note of cautious optimism and unity:
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“If you want to go fast, go alone — if you want to go far, go together.”
Her words acknowledged the road ahead: a path not just of personal significance, but of potential transformation — or confrontation — for the wider Church.
Praise at Home, Criticism Abroad
Mullally’s appointment was met with joy in many quarters of the Church of England and among Anglican communities in North America, Australia, and parts of Europe. Calls for inclusion and gender equality have grown steadily over the past decades there. However, her elevation quickly drew fire from more conservative regions, especially in Africa, where theological and cultural stances remain more traditional. The naming of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop highlights these differences.
Laurent Mbanda, the Archbishop of Rwanda and chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches — a conservative alliance representing tens of millions of Anglicans — told Reuters that Mullally would not succeed in uniting the Communion. A bishop in Nigeria went further, calling the decision “very dangerous,” claiming that “women should follow men.”
These comments echo longstanding tensions in the Anglican world, where deeply divergent views on gender, sexuality, and scriptural authority continue to drive wedges between member churches.
A Divided Communion
Perhaps the most pressing issue facing Mullally is the question of LGBTQ+ inclusion. While she has stopped short of endorsing same-sex marriage within the Church, Mullally has publicly supported blessings for same-sex couples. This move is seen by many conservatives as a breach of biblical teaching.
In several African countries where Anglicanism is strong, homosexuality remains illegal. Church leaders often reflect — or reinforce — those laws in their theological positions. Mullally’s more inclusive stance is likely to exacerbate these divisions.
The Church of England’s evangelical wing, while less publicly confrontational than some African bishops, also voiced concern. They called on the Church to “halt its drift away from Scripture.” These factions see Sarah Mullally’s first appointment as a leader who challenges traditional views. It is a critical moment.
The Path Forward
Sarah Mullally steps into a role laden with both possibility and peril. She represents progress for a Church that has, over centuries, often been slow to change. Her nursing background may equip her with the kind of pastoral care and steady leadership needed to navigate the Communion’s many fractures.
But she also inherits a deeply divided flock — one in which unity may be impossible without sacrifice from all sides. Whether her tenure will lead to reconciliation or further splintering remains to be seen. Notably, Sarah Mullally has been named as the first woman in this historic role.
Still, for many, her appointment sends a powerful message: that leadership in the Church is no longer confined by gender. Additionally, it signals that tradition and transformation can, at least in theory, walk hand in hand.
As Mullally herself might suggest: the journey will be long — but perhaps, if walked together, it will be worth it.
