Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, has been appointed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the Church of England. This announcement follows the resignation of Justin Welby, who stepped down nearly a year ago amid a critical review of the Church's handling of a sexual abuse scandal.

Dame Sarah's appointment is significant as it is the first time an archbishop has been selected since women were permitted to become bishops in 2014. Her official confirmation will take place in a legal ceremony scheduled for January. On her first visit as archbishop-designate, she participated in community service by helping to pack food parcels at a local church.

In her address at Canterbury Cathedral, Dame Sarah expressed her commitment to her new role, stating, "Today as I respond to the call of Christ in this new ministry, I remain rooted in my first calling, to follow Christ, to know him and to make him known in the world." She emphasized the importance of kindness and love in addressing global uncertainties, saying, "In the apparent chaos which surrounds us, in the midst of such profound global uncertainty, the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love."

Dame Sarah, 63, is married to Eamonn Mullally, and they have two children. Originally from Woking in Surrey, she served as the UK's chief nursing officer from 1999 to 2004 and was honored as a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 for her contributions to nursing and midwifery. Before becoming the 133rd Bishop of London in 2018, she held the position of Bishop of Crediton for three years.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed her appointment, stating, "I welcome the appointment of The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally D.B.E as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the role." He acknowledged the Church of England's significance in the country and expressed his anticipation of working with her.

Dame Sarah will succeed the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who has been managing the responsibilities during the vacancy left by Welby. Cottrell was also part of the voting body that selected Dame Sarah as the new archbishop.

The selection process for the new archbishop is conducted by the Crown Nominations Commission, which operates with a high level of confidentiality. This committee, chaired by a former MI5 director-general, must reach a two-thirds majority on two candidates before presenting them to the prime minister, who then makes the final selection for the King’s formal appointment.

The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the highest leader of the Church of England, second only to the King, who is the Church's supreme governor. The archbishop oversees church activities in the southern two-thirds of England, while the Archbishop of York leads in the northern region. Together with other bishops, the archbishops guide the Church's direction and its societal role.