Dame Sarah Mullally Named as Pioneering Female Archbishop of the Church of England
The Church of England has selected Sarah Mullally as the inaugural woman leader of the Church of England, with the government confirming the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year after Justin Welby’s resignation amid controversy regarding safeguarding issues.
This is the initial occasion an leader of the Anglican church has been chosen since the Church of England opened the episcopate to women in 2014.
The top cleric is considered the faith guide of the Anglican church globally and also possesses a seat in the House of Lords.
The Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York handled key tasks temporarily, and was one of the voting members of the committee tasked with appointing the next archbishop.
The selection body had to approve the selection by a two-thirds majority vote. After agreement, according to custom, the process involves a name being given to the prime minister – in this case Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.
Mullally will not legally take on the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an enthronement service occurring subsequently, after homage is rendered to the monarch.
