For the first time in more than 1,400 years, Church of England gets a woman leader

CANTERBURY – A historic milestone was reached today as Sarah Mullally was formally installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time in the Church of England's 1,400-year history that a woman has assumed its highest leadership position.

The traditional 90-minute ceremony commenced with Mullally's ceremonial knocking three times on Canterbury Cathedral's west door before being welcomed inside by local schoolchildren. Distinguished attendees included the Prince and Princess of Wales alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

During her inaugural sermon, Mullally acknowledged the significance of her groundbreaking appointment, reflecting: "As I look back over my life … I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called."

Mullally's appointment was announced in October of the previous year. In preparation for her installation, she undertook the traditional 87-mile pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, following the historic route immortalized in Geoffrey Chaucer's literary masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales.

This appointment represents a significant evolution for the Church of England, which has permitted women's ordination as priests only since 1994 and as bishops since 2014.

Beyond her role as head of the Church of England, Mullally assumes spiritual leadership of the global Anglican Communion, representing tens of millions of Anglicans worldwide. The installation ceremony reflected this international scope, incorporating passages delivered in multiple languages including Spanish, Swahili, and Urdu.

Mixed reactions

Mullally's historic appointment has generated both celebration and controversy within Anglican circles. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a conservative church affiliate, has publicly expressed opposition to her leadership.

However, Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York and the Church of England's second-highest ranking official, characterized the installation as a moment of profound joy when speaking with NPR.

"I don't underestimate the challenge this is for some people in the Anglican Communion, but equally I don't think we should overplay that," Cottrell explained. "I think the world is rejoicing today at what's happening."

The significance of Mullally's appointment resonates particularly strongly among female Anglican leaders globally. Reverend Emily Onyango, assistant bishop of the Diocese of Bondo and the first woman ordained as a bishop in Kenya's Anglican Church, acknowledged the unique challenges facing women in church leadership.

"Most people have never seen a woman church leader … people set such a high bar," Onyango observed. "Everybody thinks that you should be twice as good as the other bishops to be recognized, so I think it is quite challenging."

Onyango traveled to Canterbury alongside Bishop Vicentia Kgabe of Pretoria, both members of the "Africa six" group of female Anglican bishops. Five members of this distinguished group attended the ceremony.

"Some of us never thought in our lifetime, nor in the life of the church, we'd have a woman being elected and her saying yes to the appointment," Kgabe reflected. "That is a historic moment."

"We are very excited and grateful to God that this has happened," Onyango added. "We feel affirmed by one of us being at the top of the church."

Following a crisis

Mullally's installation occurs against the backdrop of significant institutional challenges. Her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned in November 2024 following severe criticism of his handling of a sexual abuse scandal within the church.

Madeleine Davies, senior journalist for Church Times and someone who has interviewed Mullally on multiple occasions, believes the new archbishop's professional background provides valuable preparation for these challenges. Mullally's experience as both a senior nurse and Britain's chief nursing officer should serve her well in the role.

"She always seems very calm, in control, self-contained," Davies noted. "She's got quite a peaceable presence, and I think that will be reassuring to people."

While some critics have characterized Mullally as overly "managerial," Davies suggests this administrative competence will prove essential given the scope of challenges ahead. Mullally faces the complex task of restoring the church's reputation while addressing declining congregation numbers and supporting hundreds of financially struggling parishes across the United Kingdom.

Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, emphasized the weight of historical precedent accompanying Mullally's new role. "This is not only a centuries-old office, it's a millennia-old office," he explained to NPR, noting that Mullally now leads one of the world's most ancient institutions.