The appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop of Canterbury has sparked a backlash of misogyny, according to letters published in The Guardian. Critics highlight that the Church of England still permits teachings that men should have authority over women, and some parishes have passed resolutions limiting women's roles.
Andrew Groves of Dorset wrote that churches opposing women vicars or refusing to receive communion from Mullally are misogynistic and hypocritical. He called for the church to either accept women as equal or for dissenters to leave.
Keith Griffin of West Yorkshire urged the church to use the six-month wait before Mullally starts to move beyond its tangles over gender, sexuality, and race. He emphasised the need for a dynamic Christianity that speaks to children growing up in a world of AI and connectivity.
Other letters addressed the use of the term 'enthroned' for the archbishop, with Mark Ynys-Mon noting it is a traditional practice. Rev Dr Nicholas Bradbury stressed the importance of the archbishop embodying spiritual transformation, while Julian Sharpe pointed out that weekly Anglican attendance in England remains around 700,000, comparable to football match attendance.
