- The Church of England will name its new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, with considerable anticipation for the potential appointment of the first woman to the historic role.
- The top position has been vacant for almost a year, following Justin Welby’s resignation over a safeguarding scandal.
- Leading female candidates include Bishop of Chelmsford Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Gloucester the Rt Rev Rachel Treweek, and Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally.
- Experts suggest that appointing a woman would be a “historic moment” and a “huge opportunity”, though the new Archbishop will face challenges such as declining church attendance and restoring trust after abuse scandals.
- The selection process involves the Crown Nominations Commission agreeing by a two-thirds majority, with the chosen name then passed to the prime minister and the monarch for approval.
IN FULL
