Members of the Royal Family are expected to attend the enthronement service of Dame Sarah Mullally when she formally takes office as the first woman to lead the Church of England.
Currently Bishop of London, Dame Sarah has been appointed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, succeeding Justin Welby, who stepped down last year following criticism of his handling of abuse cases.
She will legally assume the role in January at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral, with her enthronement expected to draw senior political leaders and members of the Royal Family.
Speaking at the cathedral on Friday, Dame Sarah described her appointment as a “historic moment” for the Church, while paying tribute to the women and men whose service had made it possible.
“I share with you in that joy, not for myself, but for a Church that listens to the calling of God and says, ‘Yes, we will follow you’,” she said.
She pledged to act as a “shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever the tradition”, adding: “Today, I give thanks for all the men and women, lay and ordained deacons, priests and bishops who have paved the way for this moment, and to all the women that have gone before me – thank you for your support and inspiration.”
Her appointment was formally approved by a Crown Nominations Commission and welcomed by both the King and the Prime Minister.
King Charles congratulated her on taking a role “of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion”, while Sir Keir Starmer noted the significance of her becoming “the first woman to hold the role”.
Royal Family expected to attend enthronement of first female Archbishop of Canterbury
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PA
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop in the Church of England and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
While the King is head of the Church, the archbishop has day-to-day responsibility for its direction and public witness.
Dame Sarah acknowledged the challenge ahead in addressing safeguarding failures, warning that the Church must face up to “the misuse of power in all of its forms”.
She said: “As a Church, we have too often failed to recognise or take seriously the misuse of power in all of its forms.
“As archbishop, my commitment will be to ensure that we continue to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable, and foster a culture of safety and wellbeing for all.
“This will not be easy. Our history of safeguarding failures has left a legacy of deep harm and mistrust.”
However, some survivors’ groups voiced concern about her record. Advocate Andrew Graystone said: “We had hoped for a fresh start with someone who really understands safeguarding and could get a grip on the Church’s terrible past.
“Sarah Mullally is a good person, but she has an uphill task in rebuilding trust amongst the Church’s victims.”
Dame Sarah said that progress had been made, but that further “independent scrutiny” was needed.
She also stressed the importance of the Church’s role in wider society, condemning antisemitism following the Manchester synagogue terror attack and pointing to national debates on assisted dying, migration and social cohesion.
Having been the first female Bishop of London in 2018, Dame Sarah is seen as an experienced figure.
Her leadership comes 30 years after women were first ordained as priests in the Church of England and a decade after the first female bishops were consecrated.
She was selected following a lengthy consultation earlier this year in which more than 11,000 people shared their views on the qualities needed for the role.
A description issued by the Diocese of Canterbury said the next archbishop should demonstrate integrity, compassion for the marginalised and a readiness to confront injustice.
Mr Welby, who announced his resignation in November 2024, had served as archbishop for more than a decade.
He quit after an independent review concluded he had failed to ensure that serial abuser John Smyth was reported to police in 2013. At the time, he said he was leaving “in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse”.