Dame Sarah Mullally Appointed as First Female Leader of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally has been named as the inaugural woman leader of the Church of England, with Downing Street announcing the 106th archbishop of Canterbury almost twelve months following the departure of Justin Welby over the handling of a safeguarding scandal.
This marks the first time an leader of the Anglican church has been selected since the Church of England opened the episcopate to women in 2014.
The top cleric is considered the religious head of the Anglican church worldwide and also possesses a seat in the House of Lords.
The York’s archbishop Stephen Cottrell took on most of the responsibilities temporarily, and was among the decision-makers of the committee tasked with appointing the next archbishop.
The appointments commission had to endorse the candidate by a two-thirds consensus. Once decided, according to custom, the process involves a name being given to the PM, currently Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.
The new archbishop will not formally assume the role until a formal endorsement in January, with an installation ceremony scheduled afterward, after they have paid homage to the king.
