Dame Sarah Mullally makes history as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

2026-03-25 - 16:12

Dame Sarah Mullally has been formally installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic milestone for the Church of England. The ceremony takes place at Canterbury Cathedral, symbolizing the beginning of her public ministry in the role. Speaking to the BBC ahead of the service, Dame Sarah said the occasion would reflect strong female representation, noting that “women’s voices” would be present throughout the ceremony. The Prince and Princess of Wales are attending as part of the congregation on behalf of King Charles, and saw Dame Sarah deliver her first sermon as archbishop. The event hosts around 2,000 guests, including nurses and caretakers from Canterbury, invited in recognition of her previous career in nursing. Despite a recent meningitis outbreak in the city, officials confirmed the ceremony proceeds as planned without any changes. The installation, traditionally referred to as an enthronement, marks the official start of her leadership. In a significant break from tradition, all 105 previous Archbishops of Canterbury — dating back to St Augustine in 597 AD — have been men. Women were only permitted to become priests in the Church of England starting in 1994.