Dame Sarah Mullally to be confirmed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

WorldPolitics
28 Jan 2026 • 7:30 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Dame Sarah Mullally is poised to become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic moment as the first woman to hold the Church of England's highest clerical position.
  • She will legally assume her duties during a confirmation service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, ahead of her formal enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral in March.
  • Having served nearly a decade as Bishop of London and previously as England’s chief nursing officer, Dame Sarah pledged to guide the Church with "calmness, consistency and compassion".
  • She committed to tackling safeguarding failures, listening to overlooked voices, and ensuring the Church is a kind and safe place, especially for vulnerable individuals and abuse survivors.
  • Dame Sarah replaces Justin Welby, who resigned over safeguarding issues, and a recent complaint against her handling of an abuse allegation was dismissed.

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