On Friday, British church authorities announced the appointment of London Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to lead the Church of England.

Mullally, 63, a former Chief Nursing Officer for England, will face deep divisions within the church regarding the treatment of women and the LGBTQ+ community. She will also have to address concerns that church leaders have not done enough to tackle sexual abuse scandals that have plagued the institution for over a decade.

Her appointment marks a major milestone for a church that ordained its first female priest in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015. Mullally follows 105 men who have led the Anglican Communion worldwide.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed her appointment and wished her success, stating:

> “The Church of England is of great importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities. The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life.”

Mullally will succeed former Archbishop Justin Welby, who announced his resignation in November 2024 after an independent investigation revealed he failed to report a series of physical and sexual assaults committed by a volunteer at Christian summer camps.

While the appointment of the new archbishop must be approved by King Charles III, it is expected to have global implications. The Anglican Church has over 85 million followers across 165 countries, including the Episcopal Church in the United States. Although each national church has its own leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the foremost among Anglican bishops worldwide.