Dame Sarah Mullally has been installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the 489-year history of the Church of England, assuming leadership of the global Anglican Communion during a period of significant institutional scrutiny. The ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday was attended by senior political and royal figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Mullally, a former NHS nurse, directly addressed the church’s ongoing crisis over historical sexual abuse in her address. She pledged to prioritise safeguarding and accountability, stating, “We must not overlook or minimize the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions and failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities.” Her commitment on this issue follows the resignation of her predecessor, Justin Welby, last year after a review found he had failed to adequately address the serial abuse by barrister John Smyth in the 1970s and 1980s, a scandal that spanned the UK and Africa.
Amid these challenges, Mullally has also faced recent media attention regarding her stance on proposed abortion legislation. While she has stated she does not support prosecuting women for decisions regarding their own pregnancies, she opposes an amendment that would decriminalise the act of seeking a late-stage abortion, reiterating her opposition to any increase in later abortions. The bill is currently under debate in the House of Lords, where the Archbishop, as a senior bishop, holds a seat and participates in legislative processes.
The role of Archbishop of Canterbury carries considerable symbolic weight as the senior cleric of the Church of England and a focal point for the worldwide Anglican community, though its direct political influence has waned. Mullally’s tenure begins at a moment when the church is grappling with restoring trust after abuse scandals and navigating complex social legislation. Her installation marks a historic milestone for the church, even as she inherits deep-seated issues of institutional accountability that defined the final period of her predecessor’s leadership.
