New Archbishop of Canterbury: Dame Sarah Mullally becomes first woman to ever lead church - who is she, what was her job before?
Dame Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury - marking the first time in 500 years that a woman serves as the spiritual head of the Anglican Church.
She is the first woman to serve in the office since its inception 1,429 years ago, in 597 AD and is also the first woman to serve as spiritual leader of the Church of England in its 492-year history. Mullalley will preside over an estimated 1.02 million regular worshippers across the Church of England (as of 2024);
There are also said to be 85 million people in more than 165 countries around the world forming the Anglican Communion. Dame Sarah Mullally previously said about her appointment ahead of time: “It is an extraordinary and humbling privilege to have been called to be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
"In this country and around the world, Anglican churches bring healing and hope to their communities. With God’s help, I will seek to guide Christ’s flock with calmness, consistency and compassion.
"These are times of division and uncertainty for our fractured world. I pray that we will offer space to break bread together and discover what we have in common - and I pledge myself to this ministry of hospitality.
"I want us to be a Church that always listens to the voices of those who have been ignored or overlooked, among them victims and survivors of church abuse who have often been let down. I am committed to equipping the Church to be a kind and safe place that cares for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, as we rise to the challenge of God’s call to justice, equity, peace and the care of creation."
Dame Sarah worked as a nurse at the hospitals of St Thomas, Royal Marsden and Chelsea and Westminster. From 1999 to 2004, she served as the Department of Health's chief nursing officer. At 37, she was the youngest person to ever get the role.
In the position, she advised senior civil servants and then-prime minister Tony Blair on NHS policy and introduced Europe's first patient survey. In 2001, she was ordained after starting ordination training during her time as chief nursing officer.
From 2001 to 2019, she served in ministerial roles in the Diocese of Southwark, at Salisbury Cathedral and in the Diocese of Exeter. In 2005, she received her damehood in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing and midwifery. In 2017, she was named as next Bishop of London.