Sarah Mullally Installed as First Female Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally made history as she was installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in a grand ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. The event marked the symbolic start of her public ministry as both the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes 85 million members across 165 countries.

The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 guests, including high-profile figures such as Prince William and Princess Kate representing King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. The congregation also included more than 100 guests from Anglican provinces around the world and almost 150 representatives from ecumenical partners, reflecting the global reach of the Anglican Communion.

In her first sermon as archbishop, Mullally acknowledged the pain caused to victims and survivors of abuse by the Church of England. She emphasized truth, compassion, justice, and action, stating that 'we must not overlook or minimise the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions and failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities.' This acknowledgment comes after her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned amid criticism for his handling of a serious abuse case involving John Smyth.

The ceremony featured traditional rituals such as Mullally knocking three times on the cathedral’s great west door with her pastoral staff, seeking admission. She was greeted by local schoolchildren who asked, 'Who are you and why do you request entry?' to which she replied, 'I am Sarah, a servant of Jesus Christ, and I come as one seeking the grace of God, to travel with you in his service together.' Mullally also swore an oath on the St John's Bible, marking the first time this Bible has been used for such a purpose.

The installation ceremony was held on the Feast of the Annunciation, which marks the moment Mary learned she would bear the son of God. The theme of the service reflected this biblical event, celebrating one of the great women of the Bible and thinking about how to respond to God’s call. The service included prayers and readings in multiple languages, including Urdu, Spanish, and Bemba, highlighting the diversity of the global Anglican Communion.

Mullally's appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury is a historic moment for the Church of England, which has only allowed women to become priests since 1994 and bishops since 2014. Her installation comes at a time when the church is grappling with safeguarding failures, internal division, and questions about its place in modern British public life. As she begins her tenure, Mullally faces the challenge of uniting a divided global Anglican Communion while addressing issues such as the role of women and the treatment of LGBTQ+ people.