In a significant step for the Church of England, Dame Sarah Mullally has been formally elected as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury through a centuries-old ceremony held at Canterbury Cathedral.
A Historic Election Process
The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday 25 November 2025, is a formality dating back to the Reformation. The College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral convened in the medieval Chapter House to formally elect Dame Sarah, who did not attend the event. This procedural step involved several legal officers and invited observers.
Following the election, a certificate stamped with the Cathedral’s seal is issued to the King, recording the decision. Public declarations are displayed at the cathedral, and a Letters Patent is issued in the King’s name.
The Path to Leadership
Dame Sarah Mullally was officially named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury in October, making history as the first woman to be appointed to the role. She was chosen earlier this year by the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), a committee chaired by a former MI5 director. The CNC, comprising religious and lay members, required a two-thirds majority to agree on the new archbishop.
Dame Sarah will remain the Bishop of London until the Confirmation of Election ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on January 28. After this legal step, her enthronement is scheduled for March 25 at Canterbury Cathedral.
Acknowledging Challenges and Looking Forward
In her first public speech after being named Archbishop-designate, Dame Sarah committed to being “a shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry and vocation to flourish”. She also directly addressed the Church’s “history of safeguarding failures”, acknowledging the deep harm and mistrust they have caused and emphasising the need for transparency.
She takes over from the 105th archbishop, Justin Welby, who formally resigned in early January after announcing his intention to stand down two months earlier over failures in handling a safeguarding scandal.
