Hatred and racism must not tear us apart, says C of E's first female leader

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year after Justin Welby's resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal.

- Caroline Davies

A former chief nursing officer for England, Mullally, 63, the bishop of London, is now archbishop of Canterbury-designate. She will legally become the archbishop at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral in January, before a formal enthronement service at a later date at which members of the royal family are likely to be present.

The appointment of a woman as the archbishop of Canterbury had been widely anticipated because this was the first time the role had been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014.

In her first address at Canterbury Cathedral, Mullally acknowledged her role would be "complex and challenging". There would be "much talk" about this as "a historic moment - a joyous one for many", she said.

Some would ask what it meant for a woman to lead the Church of England, she added, saying: "I intend to be a shepherd, who enables everyone's ministry and vocation to flourish - whatever the tradition." She thanked "all the men and women, lay and ordained deacons, priests and bishops who have paved the way for this moment, and all the women that have gone before me".