Dame Sarah Mullally, has been confirmed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first female to lead the Church of England and she has revealed her intention to speak out against misogyny. Her appointment was confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony filled with centuries-old tradition at St Paul's Cathedral.
Commenting on the resignation of her predecessor Justin Welby due to the accusations that he did not do enough with the information he had on a prolific abuser, Dame Sarah said it was right that there was greater scrutiny on her own record in dealing with safeguarding in the Church.
"There's a sense of the weight of office that I feel, but I've also been very conscious of the huge support that I've had from people either writing [to me] or passing me in the streets," she said.
Formerly England's chief nursing officer, Dame Sarah had been serving as the Bishop of London, since 2018.
The 64-year-old set to lead the world's 85 million Anglicans also spoke about the female support she had received and the misogyny she has experienced and will be speaking out against. "It is fair to say that I have, both in my secular role, as well as in the Church, experienced misogyny at times," she said.
While she acknowledged that she had received support from many men throughout her ministry, she also learned that the issues of misogyny needed to be "brought into the open," something she intended to do.
"I'm conscious that being in this role, it's important for me to speak of it [misogyny], because there are some who don't necessarily have the status or power of this role, and feel more hesitant to do it. I commit myself to making an environment where all people can flourish and which is safer for all," she said.
Previously, in an interview with BBC Radio 4, Dame Sarah had shared that she had received "hundreds and hundreds of letters of support" from women, one even from an ordained woman who said the "announcement of my appointment was the first time that she felt affirmed as a priest."
She was nominated by a 17-member commission composed of clerics and laypeople and her appointment was confirmed by King Charles III, who is the supreme governor of the church. Soon in March 2026, she will be formally installed as bishop of the diocese of Canterbury in a ceremony marking the beginning of her new role and public-facing ministry.
