Sarah Mullally: A Historic First as Archbishop of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally: A Historic First as Archbishop of Canterbury On October 3, 2025, history was made in the Church of England as Dame Sarah Elisabeth Mullally , the Bishop of London, was announced as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury — and the first woman ever to hold the position in its 1,400-year history. Her appointment is both a landmark for gender equality and a testament to a life marked by faith, service, and leadership. A Life of Service Before the Pulpit Born in Woking in 1962, Sarah Mullally first built her career in healthcare. Trained as a nurse, she rose to become Chief Nursing Officer for England , the youngest person to hold that office. For her contributions to nursing and midwifery, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2005. Her nursing background deeply shaped her pastoral outlook: compassion, presence, and care for the vulnerable remain hallmarks of her ministry. Call to Ordained Ministry Mullally was ordained in 2001...