Dame Sarah Mullally Selected as Pioneering Woman Archbishop of the Church of England
The Church of England has selected Sarah Mullally as the inaugural woman leader of the Church of England, with the government confirming the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year after Justin Welby’s resignation following a safeguarding controversy.
This marks the first time an top bishop of Canterbury has been appointed since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014.
The top cleric is considered the spiritual leader of the Anglican church worldwide and also possesses a seat in the House of Lords.
The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell assumed many duties during the transition period, and was one of the voting members of the committee tasked with appointing the new leader.
The selection body had to endorse the candidate by a two-thirds consensus. Once decided, as per protocol, the process involves a name being given to the PM, currently Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.
Mullally will not legally take on the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an installation ceremony occurring subsequently, after homage is rendered to the monarch.
