Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman ever to hold the office in the 1,400-year history of the Church of England.
Bishop Sarah, 63, is currently the Bishop of London and has a distinguished background in public service, having been England’s Chief Nursing Officer from 1999 to 2004.
She has been an advocate for openness and inclusion, calling the 2023 decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples “a moment of hope for the Church".
She succeeds Justin Welby, who stepped down last November after a report criticised the church’s handling of sexual abuse allegations involving Iwerne camp leader John Smyth.
Hello, my name is Bishop Sarah Mullally.
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@OfficeofABC) October 3, 2025
I'm deeply honoured to have been called to serve as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.https://t.co/2FIJRUADZk pic.twitter.com/IqTgcfi7tp
In her first statement since the announcement, Bishop Sarah said:
"As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.
"At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply - to people and to God's gentle prompting - to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.
"I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.
"And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.
"I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wished Bishop Sarah "every success" in her new role.
"The Church of England is of profound importance to this country," he said.
"Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.
"The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together."
This is a breaking story. Stay with us for updates as they come in.
