Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England in its 1,400-year history.

The former Chief Nursing Officer for England will be officially confirmed as the church’s top bishop at a legal ceremony in the coming months. She will legally assume the role at Canterbury Cathedral in January 2026 and will formally take charge of the church in March.

In her first public remarks following the announcement, Mullally described her appointment as a “huge responsibility,” adding that she feels “a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me.”

Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 and left office in January 2025 following criticism of his handling of an abuse scandal. As Archbishop of Canterbury, she will serve as the spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, representing around 85 million Anglicans worldwide.

While her appointment has been widely hailed as historic, it has also drawn criticism from GAFCON — a coalition of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia. The group argued that her appointment signaled that the Church of England had “relinquished its authority to lead.”

Mullally, who was ordained as a priest in 2002 and consecrated as one of the Church of England’s first female bishops in 2015, has served as the Bishop of London since 2018. Known for her progressive views, she has supported initiatives such as allowing blessings for same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages.

Mullally’s appointment was made possible by reforms introduced eleven years ago that allowed women to hold the office of Archbishop. She will become the 106th person to hold the position.

King Charles III, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, gave formal consent to her appointment. Following tradition, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office announced the decision on Friday.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,” Starmer said in a statement.

Reflecting on her new role, Mullally said, “I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence. I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.”