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On March 25, 2026, Dame Sarah Mullally was formally enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral as the Church of England’s first female Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the 106th holder of a role that is also spiritual head of the global Anglican Communion.
The 63-year-old former nurse and ex-chief nursing officer for England took her seat on the ancient Chair of St Augustine before about 2,000 guests including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and senior faith leaders.
The 90-minute service — which began with the traditional three knocks at the west door and included vows sworn on the St John’s Bible, multilingual readings and contributions from the “Africa Six” — mixed centuries-old ritual with intentional symbolism.
Mullally acknowledged past safeguarding failures that precipitated her predecessor Justin Welby’s 2024 resignation and pledged commitment to victims, trauma-informed practice and justice.
Her appointment has drawn both wide celebration and dissent from conservative provinces and groupings such as Gafcon and some African primates, underscoring ongoing tensions over women’s leadership and sexuality within the Communion.
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ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)'Here I am': Sarah Mullally enthroned as first female Archbishop of Canterbury
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Commenters supplied historical and institutional context linking past Canterbury controversies (Becket/Henry II) to ongoing debates about authority and reform in the Church of England, and underscored that theological interpretation and international Protestant ties help explain current divisions over the archbishopric.







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