- Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury
By SCM Religious Desk
LONDON – In a ceremony steeped in 1,400 years of tradition yet defined by a modern milestone, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE will today be legally confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
The “Confirmation of Election” service is holding this morning at St Paul’s Cathedral, officially transitions Mullally from her role as the Bishop of London to the most senior position in the Church of England.
She becomes the first woman to hold the office since the See of Canterbury was established by St Augustine in 597 AD.
The legal proceedings took place before a congregation of bishops, clergy, and laypeople.
The service concluded with a powerful symbolic act: the new Archbishop taking up the Primatial Cross and delivering her first blessing in the role.
”It is an extraordinary and humbling privilege to have been called to be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury,” Mullally said in a statement.
“I approach this ministry with a sense of peace and trust in God, seeking to bring healing and hope to our communities both here and across the global Anglican Communion.”
Archbishop Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who stepped down earlier this year. Her appointment has been widely seen as a signal of cultural renewal for the Church.
Known for her pragmatic leadership and pastoral focus, she previously served as the UK Government’s Chief Nursing Officer—the youngest person to ever hold that post—before being ordained.
While today’s service at St Paul’s legally confers the title and authority of the office, the public “enthronement” or Installation will take place at Canterbury Cathedral on March 25, 2026, the Feast of the Annunciation.
Until then, the Archbishop will begin her duties, including co-presiding at the General Synod in February and paying homage to His Majesty The King.
The Path to the 106th Archbishop
The appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury is a complex process involving both the Church and the State.
The Selection Process: Following the resignation of Justin Welby, the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) met to consider candidates.
The name of the preferred candidate was submitted to the Prime Minister, who then formally advised The King.
The Nursing Background: Dame Sarah’s background is unique among Archbishops. She had a distinguished career in the NHS, specializing in cancer care, and was made a Dame in 2005 for her services to nursing and midwifery.
The Legal “Confirmation”: Today’s event at St Paul’s is the Confirmation of Election.
In Anglican law, the Bishop of London (or any bishop-elect) does not legally become the new office holder until this specific legal ceremony occurs, even if the announcement was made months prior.
Global Role: As the 106th Archbishop, Mullally is not just the leader of the Church of England, but the “first among equals” (primus inter pares) of the global Anglican Communion, which represents over 85 million people in 165 countries.
Her Profile
A detailed profile of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury reveals a career defined by two distinct but interconnected vocations: healthcare leadership and ordained ministry.
The NHS and Nursing Leadership
Dame Sarah’s professional life began in the National Health Service (NHS), where she specialized as a cancer nurse. Her rise through the ranks of healthcare management was rapid:
Clinical Roots: She held clinical nursing posts at St Thomas’ Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Director Roles: She served as the Director of Nursing at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Chief Nursing Officer (1999–2004): At the age of 37, she was appointed the UK Government’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for England.
She was the youngest person ever to hold this post, advising the government and shaping national health policy.
Damehood: In 2005, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to nursing and midwifery.
Career Phase II: Transition to Ministry
While serving as the CNO, Mullally began her transition into the Church of England, a process she has described as a “gradual” response to a lifelong sense of vocation.
Ordination (2001): She was ordained as a priest in 2001. For three years, she balanced her high-level government role with ministry as a “self-supporting” (unpaid) minister in the Diocese of Southwark.
Full-Time Ministry (2004): In 2004, she made what she called “the biggest decision” of her life, leaving her secular career to pursue full-time ministry.
Parish & Cathedral Leadership: She served as an assistant curate in Battersea and later as a Team Rector in Sutton.
In 2012, she was appointed Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral, where she oversaw the cathedral’s finances and fabric.
Career Phase III: Episcopal Leadership
Dame Sarah has been a consistent trailblazer in the Church’s senior leadership since the consecration of female bishops began:
Bishop of Crediton (2015–2018): She became one of the first women to be ordained as a bishop, serving as a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the Diocese of Exeter.
Bishop of London (2018–2026): In 2018, she was installed at St Paul’s Cathedral as the 133rd Bishop of London.
This role made her the third most senior cleric in the Church of England and led to her appointment to the House of Lords and the Privy Council.
Archbishop of Canterbury (2026): Following her Confirmation of Election today, January 28, 2026, she officially becomes the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion.
Key Qualifications
BSc in Nursing Studies (Southwark Polytechnic)
MSc and MA in Pastoral Theology (Heythrop College, University of London)
Multiple Honorary Doctorates in Science and Divinity.
