First woman appointed archbishop of Canterbury

SARAH Mullally was named the new archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, becoming the first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Church of England, and of the global Anglican community, in the church’s nearly 500-year history.

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BRITAIN'S new Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, Sarah Mullally.

(I AFP)

The position has been vacant since last November when Justin Welby announced his resignation after an investigation found he failed to sufficiently report, investigate and contain aman who for decades ran evangelical summer camps and subjected boys to sexual, physical and psychological abuse.

A report summarising an investigation by the church described the man, John Smyth, as “arguably, the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England.”

The Church of England only allowed women to become bishops in 2014.

Mullally, 63, has broken barriers throughout her career. In 2018, she became the first female bishop of London, the church’s third most senior clerical position. Before her ordination in 2001, she worked in nursing and, at age 37, became the youngest person to be appointed England’s chief nursing officer.