Daijiworld Media Network - Canterbury
Canterbury, Mar 25: In a landmark moment for the global Anglican community, Sarah Mullally has been formally enthroned as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the position in over 1,400 years.
The ceremonial installation took place at Canterbury Cathedral on the Feast of the Annunciation, in the presence of prominent figures including Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Over 2,000 people attended the historic ceremony.
Although Mullally officially assumed office on January 28, 2026, following confirmation at St Paul’s Cathedral, the enthronement ceremony marked the symbolic beginning of her public ministry.
In keeping with tradition, she knocked on the cathedral’s Great West Door before being welcomed inside, and was later seated on St Augustine’s Chair, a historic marble throne dating back to the 13th century.
Role and global significance
The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, a global fellowship of around 85 million Christians across 165 countries. The position, established in 597 AD by Pope Gregory I through the mission of Augustine of Canterbury, carries symbolic and moral authority rather than direct governance, distinguishing it from the authority of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church.
Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 following criticism over his handling of abuse allegations.
From nursing to Church leadership
Born in Woking, Surrey, Mullally began her career in healthcare, training as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. She rose to become England’s youngest-ever Chief Nursing Officer in 1999 at the age of 37.
Her journey into ministry began alongside her NHS career, and she was ordained as a priest in 2001. In 2015, she became one of the first women bishops in the Church of England as Bishop of Crediton, and later, in 2018, was appointed Bishop of London—one of the church’s most senior roles.
A ceremony rich in symbolism
Highlighting her roots, Mullally wore a clasp made from the belt buckle of her nursing uniform during the ceremony. She also wore a historic ring once given to former Archbishop Michael Ramsey by Pope Paul VI in 1966, symbolising improving relations between Anglicans and Catholics.
In a unique gesture, Mullally undertook a six-day, 87-mile pilgrimage from London to Canterbury ahead of her installation—becoming the first modern Archbishop to do so.
Her name now joins a 1,400-year lineage of archbishops engraved within Canterbury Cathedral—marking not just continuity, but a transformative new chapter in the Church of England’s history.