The appointment of Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to be given the role in the history of the Church of England, has been warmly welcome by Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The current Bishop of London – where she was also the first woman to serve in that position – will become the senior bishop and leader of the Church of England, and will serve as the head of the global Anglican Communion, which consists of around 85 million people across 165 countries.
“On behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church, I warmly welcome the appointment of the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury,” said the Primus.
“This is a historic appointment. The Scottish Episcopal Church honours the ministry of women, and it is therefore a great delight to see that for the first time, the primus inter pares of the Anglican Communion is a woman.
“I have met Bishop Sarah at various Anglican Communion events and at the Chrcuh of England’s General Synod, and I look forward to working together with her for the flourishing of the Anglican Communion across these islands.
“As a Church, we assure her of our prayers and friendship as she prepares for her new role.”
This is the first time that a woman has been eligible for the role, because female bishops were not consecrated by the Church of England when the previous Archbishop of Canterbury was chosen 12 years ago. They now make up almost one third of all bishops in England.
Upon her appointment as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sarah said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.
“At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.
“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.
“And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.
“I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has.’
Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, said: “I welcome and commend the nomination of Bishop Sarah as the next Archbishop of Canterbury and invite the churches of the global Anglican Communion to pray for her as she prepares to take up this important ministry. May God grant her wisdom and discernment, as she seeks to listen to Member churches, encourage mutual support, and foster unity.
“The Anglican Communion Office is fully committed to supporting her ministry as she works with other Provinces and the Instruments of the Anglican Communion. Let us pray that God will pour out His Spirit on the Anglican Communion to boldly share Christ’s transformational love and the hope of the Gospel in today’s world.”
Before she became Bishop of London in 2018, Bishop Sarah was Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter. Prior to her ordination in 2001, she was the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England – the youngest person ever to be appointed to that role at the age of 37 – having previously specialised as a cancer nurse.
Bishop Sarah, 63, succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury last year. She will be installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.
The Church of England shared the following prayer for use following the nomination:
Almighty and everlasting God,
the only worker of great marvels,
send down upon your servant Sarah,
called to be Archbishop of Canterbury,
and all who are committed to her care,
the spirit of your saving grace,
and that they may truly please you,
pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing.
Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
(Photo: Lambeth Palace)