Sarah Mullally confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury, first woman to lead Church of England

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Associated PressJanuary 28, 2026 at 01:42 PM

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Sarah Mullally was confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday, marking the first time a woman has held the position in the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury is traditionally viewed as the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Mullally, a former nurse, officially assumed her responsibilities following a legal confirmation ceremony, nearly four months after her appointment was announced. This milestone highlights the Church of England's divergence from the Catholic Church, which does not allow female priests. The Church of England began ordaining female priests in 1994 and female bishops in 2015.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 50% King Henry VIII 50% King's College London 50% George Gross ×260% Episcopal Church 60% Catholic Church ×270% Anglican Communion 70% Church of England ×390% Archbishop of Canterbury ×290% Sarah Mullally ×4100%

Keywords

church of england 100% archbishop of canterbury 100% sarah mullally 100% woman leader 90% ordination of women 80% confirmation of election 60% anglican communion 60% catholic church 50% female priests 50% spiritual leader 40%