Who Is Dame Sarah Mullally, the First Woman to Become Archbishop of Canterbury?

For the first time in its 1,400-year history, the Church of England has appointed a woman to its most senior role. Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, will succeed Justin Welby as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, nearly a year after he stepped down following a critical review into the Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases.

Early Church Leadership

Dame Sarah, 63, became Bishop of London in December 2017, making her the Church’s third most senior leader. On her first day, she called for greater diversity within the clergy, stressing the importance of women and leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds. She expressed hope that London’s churches could reflect the city’s diversity and provide a spiritual home for all.

Career Before the Church

Before becoming a bishop, Dame Sarah had a distinguished career in healthcare. From 1999 to 2004, she served as the UK’s Chief Nursing Officer, the youngest ever to hold the post. During her tenure, she advised Prime Minister Tony Blair and introduced Europe’s first patient survey, which she described as her proudest achievement. She left in 2004 after being ordained three years earlier, later becoming Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter. In 2005, she was awarded a damehood for her contribution to nursing and midwifery.

Response to Abuse Scandal

Dame Sarah has strongly condemned abuse within the Church of England, following an inquiry into the crimes of barrister John Smyth QC, who abused around 130 boys and young men at Christian camps. The findings of the report led to Justin Welby’s resignation. Dame Sarah praised the courage of survivors and admitted the Church’s failures, stressing the need for safeguarding reforms and meaningful action alongside apologies.

Views on Key Issues

Dame Sarah has spoken out on a number of contentious debates within the Church:

• In 2023, she introduced a motion to allow blessings for same-sex couples after civil marriages, which was passed. While this did not permit same-sex marriages in church, it allowed prayers of blessing, dedication, and thanksgiving. She described it as “a moment of hope,” while acknowledging that the decision left many dissatisfied.

• She has opposed legislation on assisted dying, voicing “deep concerns” in the House of Lords about its potential to harm society’s most vulnerable.

Now stepping into her historic new role, Dame Sarah faces the challenge of steering the Church through ongoing debates on inclusivity, safeguarding, and modernisation, while balancing centuries of tradition.

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