For the first time, a woman will lead Church of England

Bishop of London Sarah Mullally was announced Friday as the next archbishop of Canterbury, the first time in 1,400 years that a woman has been chosen as the spiritual leader of the Church of England.

- By Danica KIRKA AND BRIAN MELLEY

Mullally, 63, a former chief nursing officer for England, will face serious challenges including divisions over the treatment of women and LGBTQ+ people. She will also have to confront concerns that church leaders haven't done enough to stamp out the sexual abuse scandals that have dogged the church for more than a decade.

The choice marks a major milestone for a church that ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015. She follows 105 men who have held the role since St. Augustine became the first archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597.

Mullally sees hope in uncertain times

In her first remarks, Mullally spoke from a lectern at Canterbury Cathedral, where she opened with a prayer and spoke of the hope she saw despite uncertain times globally and struggles within the church.

She said her first calling is to follow Christ and spread his message. But she also addressed some of the key issues facing the nation, including migration that has created political divisions, debate over a bill in Parliament to legalize assisted dying, which she opposes, and she mentioned the “horrific violence” of Thursday's synagogue attack in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.