Dame Sarah Mullally Enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been officially enthroned as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the position in its more than 1,400-year history. The ceremony took place on March 25, 2026, at Canterbury Cathedral, marking the formal start of her public ministry as head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The event drew over 2,000 attendees, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the UK Prime Minister, and representatives from the Anglican Communion’s 42 member churches, as well as delegates from the Vatican and the Orthodox Church.

Dame Mullally, who was appointed to the role in October 2025 and formally confirmed at St Paul’s Cathedral in January 2026, was warmly received during the ceremony, smiling as she was welcomed as the new archbishop. The service also marked a first, with the St John’s Bible being used for her Corporal Oath.

Her enthronement, following an 87-mile symbolic pilgrimage, marks a historic milestone as the first woman in a male lineage dating back to 597 AD.

As Archbishop of Canterbury, she will serve as Primate of All England, Metropolitan, and first among equals among Anglican primates worldwide, as well as one of the 26 Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords.

Before her appointment, Dame Mullally had a distinguished career in both healthcare and ministry. A former cancer nurse and the youngest Chief Nursing Officer in England at age 37, she was ordained in 2001 and later became the first female Bishop of London in 2018, the third most senior role in the Church.