The appointment of Sarah Mullally (Woking, United Kingdom, 1962) as Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion has marked a turning point in the institution's history. Mullally, who served as former Bishop of London between 2018 and 2026, is the first woman to hold this position in five centuries, a fact that has generated both support and controversy within the Anglican community, which boasts 98 million followers worldwide.
Her appointment, made by King Charles III on the recommendation of the Church of England, underscores an evolution in religious customs, albeit with the risk of causing a schism. This decision follows the 2014 agreement, which allowed women to become bishops, and which already generated strong opposition from more conservative sectors. Mullally, 63 years old, is a nurse by profession, married, and a mother of two children, and has entered history as the 106th primate of the Church of England.
“"As you ask the Lord to grant you wisdom, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you in serving your communities and that you will be inspired by the example of Mary, the Mother of God."
Her ascent to the position comes after the resignation of her predecessor in 2024, who was under scrutiny for his handling of a sexual abuse case. In her investiture sermon, Sarah Mullally dedicated her words to the victims of the "errors" committed by her Church, and urged not to "overlook or minimize the pain" of those who have been "harmed" by the "actions, inactions, or failures" of members of the curia.
Mullally's appointment has highlighted the deep fracture within the Anglican community. Some leaders, especially those from Africa, believe that the institution is "abandoning the Scriptures" and "historical discipline." However, Mullally defines herself as a feminist, a supporter of women's free choice in abortion cases within the legal framework, and in favor of her Church blessing same-sex marriages, which she considers "a moment of hope for the Church."
