Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as the Archbishop of
Canterbury — three months after her historic appointment as the first woman to
occupy the position since the establishment of the Church of England nearly
1,400 years ago.
Mullally’s appointment was confirmed during a ceremony at St
Paul Cathedral in London on Wednesday.
She described the appointment as “an extraordinary and
humbling privilege”.
“With God’s help, I will seek to guide Christ’s flock with
calmness, consistency and compassion,” the new archbishop said, stressing the
need for such leadership in these “times of division and uncertainty for our
fractured world”.
Mullally’s confirmation service featured global renditions
in what was seen as a unifying act for the church’s mixed congregation.
Hymns were sung by the St Paul’s Cathedral choir; a Xhosa
South African chant was rendered; and while a student delivered a reading in
both English and Portuguese, the majority spoken language in the Anglican
provinces of Mozambique and Angola, with which the diocese of London has a
pastoral link.
The church had been without a leader for almost a year after
Justin Welby resigned over his failure to report a prolific child abuser.
Mullally was announced as Welby’s replacement last October.
The new archbishop previously worked as a nurse in London
hospitals, rising to the position of chief nursing officer for England and
director of patient experience in the national health service.
She is now the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans
worldwide. Her installation is scheduled
for March.
Source: Sarah Mullally confirmed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury
