The Indian Christian Women Movement (ICWM), an ecumenical collective advocating gender equality in churches, has welcomed the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the position in the Church of England’s nearly 1,500-year history.
“It is with sisterly joy that we welcome Dame Sarah Mullally to her new post as the Archbishop of Canterbury,” said Noella D’Souza, a Catholic member and Mumbai convener of ICWM. “The Church of England has had its struggles, but it has always been far ahead of us when it comes to the ordination and ministry of women. We wait eagerly to see her live out her Magnificat.”
On October 3, King Charles III formally approved Mullally’s appointment as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which counts around 85 million members. Her installation will take place at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.
The 63-year-old succeeds Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned in January following controversy over his handling of abuse allegations within the church.
Before her new appointment, Mullally served as Bishop of London since 2018, the first woman to hold that position, and earlier as Bishop of Crediton. Prior to entering ministry in 2001, she had a distinguished career in healthcare, becoming England’s Chief Nursing Officer at age 37, the youngest person ever in that role. She has described nursing as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God.”
While her elevation has been widely celebrated, some conservative Anglican groups, particularly in Africa, have criticized the decision due to their opposition to women bishops.
In India, D’Souza said the milestone offers inspiration but also highlights how far other Christian communities must go to achieve equality: “Our Church will have to wait a few more decades for this to happen, if it does.”
In a statement, Archbishop-designate Mullally said she accepted the call “in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager,” expressing hope that the Church would “grow in confidence in the Gospel” and continue to embody the love of Christ in its actions.
Adapted from Matters India.
