Sarah Mullally Appointed as First Woman Archbishop of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the pioneering woman head of the Church of England, with the government confirming the new spiritual leader of Canterbury nearly a year after Welby stepping down following a safeguarding controversy.
This is the initial occasion an archbishop of Canterbury has been appointed since the Church of England permitted female bishops in 2014.
The leader is seen as the faith guide of the Anglican church worldwide and additionally holds a role in the Lords.
The York’s archbishop Stephen Cottrell handled key tasks temporarily, and was a participating elector of the body charged with choosing Welby’s successor.
The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) had to endorse the candidate by a two-thirds majority vote. Once decided, in line with tradition, the steps entail presenting a nominee to the prime minister – in this case Keir Starmer and then submitted to the sovereign.
The new archbishop will not formally assume the role until a electoral confirmation in January, with an induction rite scheduled afterward, after they have paid homage to the king.
