Bishop Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, has been approved by the King as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She will be installed at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026 as the 106th Archbishop since Saint Augustine.
Ordained in 2001, Bishop Sarah previously served as England’s youngest Chief Nursing Officer and as Bishop of Crediton. According to the announcement of the Church of England, Bishop Sara is known for her compassion, inclusive leadership, and emphasis on listening.
She draws on her nursing and ministry experience to guide her work. Reflecting on her appointment, she 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.”
Her nomination followed months of consultation and discernment by the Crown Nominations Commission. She added, “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.”
Church leaders in the UK and the global Anglican Communion have welcomed her appointment, praising her courage, integrity, and vision for unity. As Archbishop, she will lead the Diocese of Canterbury, serve as Primate of All England, act as first among equals for the Primates of the Anglican Communion, and sit in the House of Lords. She has pledged to encourage the Church to grow in confidence in the Gospel and serve communities worldwide.-up children, Liam and Grace.
