Dame Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as the first-ever female Archbishop of Canterbury, some 1,400 years after the role was created.
The ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London also confirmed the 63-year-old as the first woman to assume the spiritual leadership of the Church of England in its nearly 500-year history.
Dame Sarah, who is married to Eamonn Mullally and is a mother-of-two, is now officially the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
She was named in October after her predecessor, Justin Welby, stepped down in November 2024 after an independent review found he “could and should” have reported decades-long abuse of men and young boys by his former friend.
Cancer nurse turned cleric Dame Sarah officially took up the responsibilities of her new job on Wednesday as bewigged judges presided over a legal ceremony confirming her appointment.
As the lengthy process came to a close and her election was confirmed, Dame Sarah, who was born in Woking, Surrey, stood and faced the congregation to loud applause.
“We welcome you,” the bishops surrounding her shouted in unison.
The ceremony was interrupted by a heckler as it was announced that no person had appeared in opposition to the confirmation. The heckler was then escorted from the cathedral.
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The bishops declared that no objection had been made in a timely way and Dame Sarah took her oath of allegiance to the British crown and the church.
Her official installment is to follow in March at Canterbury Cathedral.
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Dame Sarah, in an interview as she took up her new role, shared her gratitude for the “support of a whole range of people, including men, in my ministry”.
But the former chief nursing officer for England, added: “It is fair to say that I have, both in my secular role as well as in the church, experienced misogyny at times.”
She said over the years she has learned it must be spoken about “so that you bring it out into the open”.
Augustine of Canterbury (597–604): The first archbishop was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the English. He succeeded with the pagan King AEthelberht of Kent and was allowed to set up a monastery.
Thomas Becket (1162–1170): Famous for his conflict with King Henry II over church rights. His assassination in Canterbury Cathedral, after Henry is said to have uttered the phrase “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”, turned the site into a major pilgrimage destination.
Thomas Cranmer (1533–1556): A key figure in the English Reformation who was Archbishop during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and for a short time Mary I. He developed the Book of Common Prayer and was later burned at the stake.
George Carey (1991-2002): Was archbishop when legislation was first passed in 1992 to allow women to be ordained as Church of England priests.
