Sarah Mullally Named as Pioneering Female Leader of the Church of England
Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the pioneering woman head of the Church of England, with the government confirming the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year after the departure of Justin Welby following a safeguarding controversy.
This marks the first time an leader of the Anglican church has been selected since the Church of England permitted female bishops in 2014.
The leader is seen as the spiritual leader of the Anglican church globally and they also have a position in the upper parliamentary chamber.
The Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York assumed many duties in the interim, and was one of the voting members of the group responsible for selecting the new leader.
The selection body had to agree to the new appointment by a two-thirds consensus. Following approval, according to custom, the process involves a name being given to the prime minister – in this case Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the king.
The new archbishop will not formally assume the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an installation ceremony scheduled afterward, after they have paid homage to the king.
