For the first time in more than 1,400 years, Church of England gets a woman leader
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Sarah Mullally has become the first woman to be installed as the archbishop of Canterbury, the 106th person to hold the position in the Church of England's 1,400-year history.
- The installation ceremony, attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, included multicultural elements reflecting Mullally's role as spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion.
- Mullally's appointment marks a significant milestone since women were only allowed to become priests in 1994 and bishops in 2014, though some groups like the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans have opposed her leadership.
- The new archbishop brings experience as a senior nurse and former chief nursing officer, qualities seen as beneficial for addressing the church's challenges, including restoring its image and managing declining congregation numbers.
- Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned amid criticism over handling a sexual abuse scandal, and assumes leadership of one of the world's oldest religious institutions with a historic role in both church and state affairs.
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