Sarah Mullally has been installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the position in its nearly 1,500-year history. The former Bishop of London takes on the role at a challenging time for the Church of England, which is grappling with safeguarding failures, internal divisions, and questions about its relevance in modern Britain.
Mullally, a state-educated former NHS chief nursing officer, succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned after criticism over his handling of abuse allegations against prolific abuser John Smyth. Welby was found to have failed to properly report the allegations in 2013, allowing Smyth to evade justice. Smyth died in 2018, with around 130 boys believed to have been his victims.
Mullally herself faced scrutiny over a complaint about her handling of an abuse case while Bishop of London, but the Archbishop of York dismissed the complaint, finding no misconduct. Observers express confidence in her ability to address safeguarding, with Mullally calling it a “fundamental, non-negotiable responsibility” and vowing to put victims at the heart of the church’s work.
However, the church in 2025 rejected adopting a fully independent safeguarding model. Mullally also faces a divided global Anglican communion, where some churches do not recognise women priests. She has acknowledged experiencing misogyny in both secular and church roles but remains committed to steering the church forward.
