Historic First: Dame Sarah Mullally Confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury
In a landmark ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral, Dame Sarah Mullally has been legally confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time a woman has held the Church of England's most senior bishopric. The confirmation service, which took place on Wednesday 28 January 2026, was briefly interrupted by a heckler but proceeded to formally install Dame Sarah in her historic role.
Ceremony Interrupted by Serial Protester
The solemn proceedings were momentarily disrupted when a heckler, believed to be retired vicar Paul Williamson, voiced objections before being escorted from the cathedral. Williamson has previously been described as a "serial protester," having similarly interrupted the 2015 consecration service for the first female Church of England bishop, Libby Lane. Following the interruption, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell confirmed that no lawful objections had been received, allowing the confirmation process to continue uninterrupted.
Pledge to Address Institutional Misogyny
In her first interview as Archbishop-designate, Dame Sarah Mullally spoke candidly about her experiences with misogyny both in her secular role as England's former chief nursing officer and within the Church. "It is fair to say that I have, both in my secular role as well as in the Church, experienced misogyny at times," she revealed. The new Archbishop emphasized her commitment to creating "an environment where all people can flourish and which is safer for all."
Dame Sarah reflected on the "institutional barriers" and "micro-aggressions" that women continue to face within the Church, recalling how her voice had cracked with emotion when addressing these issues at last year's General Synod. "I'm conscious that being in this role, it's important for me to speak of it," she stated, "because there are some that don't necessarily have the status or the power of this role, and feel more hesitant to do it."
Global Anglican Reactions and Divisions
While Dame Sarah's appointment has been celebrated by many as a historic milestone, it has exposed deep divisions within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Archbishop Henry Ndukuba of the Church of Nigeria described the appointment as "devastating," calling it insensitive "to the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who are unable to embrace female headship in the episcopate."
Similarly, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, who chairs the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), published a statement asserting that "the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy." He maintained that this makes it "impossible for the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve as a focus of unity within the Communion."
Safeguarding Commitments and Scrutiny
The new Archbishop faces ongoing scrutiny regarding safeguarding practices, having recently had a complaint against her dismissed concerning her handling of an abuse allegation in the Diocese of London. Dame Sarah acknowledged the increased scrutiny that comes with her new position, stating: "All of us should be open to having the light shone on what we do, and coming in as the Archbishop of Canterbury I recognise, rightly so, that there is greater scrutiny on me and the actions that I have undertaken."
She reiterated her commitment to safeguarding, particularly emphasizing the importance of "listening to the victims and survivors of abuse." Dame Sarah also pledged to work toward ensuring "independence in safeguarding" and improvements to the clergy discipline measure, both of which will be considered at next month's Synod meeting.
Symbolic Moments and Future Ceremonies
Following the confirmation service, stonemasons immediately began carving Dame Sarah's name onto the historic plaque at Canterbury Cathedral that lists every previous holder of the office dating back to St Augustine in 597. In a symbolic moment, Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin told the congregation that this represented the Church's "Habemus Mamam" moment, echoing the traditional "Habemus Papam" declaration used in Catholic papal appointments.
Dame Sarah's first official act as Archbishop was to take up the Primatial Cross and deliver a blessing at the conclusion of the ceremony. While she did not preach during Wednesday's service, she will deliver her first sermon in her new role during her installation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in March, after which she will formally begin her preaching duties as spiritual leader of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Statistical Context and Future Challenges
The Church of England reported approximately 1.02 million regular worshippers in 2024, showing a slight increase from 1.01 million in the previous year. Meanwhile, the global Anglican Communion encompasses an estimated 85 million people across more than 165 countries worldwide. Dame Sarah Mullally assumes leadership of this diverse community at a time of significant theological and social challenges, including ongoing debates about same-sex blessings and the Church's response to safeguarding failures.
As she prepares for her enthronement in March, the new Archbishop has expressed her intention to provide "hospitality to people" and create space for dialogue with those who may find her appointment difficult. "I have always understood that people may find my appointment as a woman difficult in the Church," she acknowledged, "and what I hope to do is to be able to provide a space where I can offer hospitality to people, where I can listen to what their concerns are."
