Anglicans to be led by a woman for first time

THE Church of England has made history by announcing a woman will be Archbishop of Canterbury.

- By David Williamson Chief Political Commentator

Dame Sarah Mullally, who was the youngest chief nursing officer for England before becoming the first woman Bishop of London, spoke of her desire to bring “hope and healing”.

The 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will face divisions on issues of theology and sexuality.

Her predecessor, Justin Welby, was forced to quit in the wake of a safeguarding scandal and she pledged to “foster a culture of safety and wellbeing for all”.

The nomination will have reverberations across an Anglican Communion which spans 165 countries and 85 million people.

The 63-year-old said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.