Dame Sarah Mullally Appointed as First Woman Leader of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the pioneering woman head of the Church of England, with the government confirming the top cleric of Canterbury shortly after a year since Welby stepping down 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 allowed women to become bishops in 2014.
The archbishop is regarded as the faith guide of the Anglican church worldwide and additionally holds 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 new leader.
The appointments commission had to agree to the new appointment by a two-thirds consensus. After agreement, as per protocol, the process involves a name being given to the prime minister – in this case Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.
The new archbishop will not formally assume the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an induction rite taking place later, after they have paid homage to the king.
