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Mullally to be installed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally becomes the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, overseeing 85 million Anglicans and addressing church unity amid historic safeguarding reforms.
- On Wednesday, Dame Sarah Mullally was enthroned as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England in its 1,400-year history. More than 2,000 guests attended the ceremony.
- Mullally, previously England's chief nursing officer, secured the appointment in October 2025 before confirmation in January 2026 at St Paul's Cathedral. Women were only permitted to become priests in England from 1994, making her elevation historically significant.
- The 90-minute ceremony featured the St John's Bible, used for an oath for the first time since 1945, and followed Mullally's 140 km pilgrimage from London. Prince William and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended alongside representatives from 165 countries.
- Mullally inherits a church facing declining attendance and a 'legacy of deep harm and mistrust' from past safeguarding failures. She pledged to listen to survivors, stating, 'Light should be shone on all our actions, and the more senior we are, the more light should be shone.'
- The Archbishop faces the complex task of uniting a divided 85-million-member Anglican Communion. While conservative GAFCON members recently formed a separate council, Mullally continues to emphasize unity across the global church amid ongoing tensions regarding women's ordination.
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Former cancer nurse Sarah Mullally to be enthroned as first woman to lead Church of England
Cancer nurse turned archbishop Sarah Mullally will be enthroned Wednesday as the first woman to lead the Church of England. The archbishop of Canterbury also serves as spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, grouping together some 100 million members.
·France
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Former head of nurses and prelate of London, this 63-year-old theologian takes command in the face of a deep crisis of trust among her faithful.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left1Leaning Right7Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
C 43%
R 50%
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