She Knocked Three Times: Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman Archbishop of Canterbury in 1,400 Years
Dame Sarah Mullally installed as 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to lead the Church of England in its 1,400 year history.
First Woman Installed as Archbishop of Canterbury in Historic Ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral
Dame Sarah Mullally has been formally installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, making history as the first woman to hold the role in the Church of England's 1,400 year existence.
The installation ceremony took place on March 25, 2026, the Feast of the Annunciation, at Canterbury Cathedral. Approximately 2,000 guests attended, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Christian leaders from across the Anglican Communion and other denominations.
The 90 minute ceremony began with Mullally knocking three times on the west door of Canterbury Cathedral before being welcomed inside by local schoolchildren. She was then seated in the 13th century Chair of St Augustine, symbolizing her new role as spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion's estimated 85 million members.
In her sermon, Mullally opened with the words from the Gospel of Luke:
"For nothing will be impossible with God."
She acknowledged the challenges facing the Church, including safeguarding failures under previous leadership, stating:
"We must not overlook or minimise the pain experienced by those who have been harmed."
Mullally had formally become Archbishop in January 2026 following a legal confirmation at St Paul's Cathedral. Before her appointment, she served as Bishop of London and had a distinguished career as an NHS chief nursing officer. In a personal touch, her cope and mitre clasp were crafted from her former NHS nurse belt buckle.
The ceremony featured the Saint John's Bible Heritage Edition rather than the ancient 6th century Augustine Gospels, which were too fragile for use. The service included hymns "Tell Out My Soul" and "Praise My Soul the King of Heaven," a Gospel reading in Spanish, an African choir, and singing in Urdu, reflecting the diversity of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Dr David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, praised the moment as historically significant, noting that the installation of a female archbishop would have seemed "unimaginable even 50 years ago."
Not all Anglicans celebrated. The Gafcon movement, representing conservative Anglican provinces, has refused to recognize Mullally's authority and is pursuing what it calls "principled disengagement" from Canterbury's leadership, largely over divisions on sexuality issues.
Sarah Mullally Makes History as Church of England's First Female Archbishop of Canterbury
Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the new Archbishop assuring her of continued dialogue "in truth and love," signaling the Catholic Church's willingness to maintain ecumenical relations under her leadership.
The Crusader's Opinion
This is a monumental day for the Church of England, and it demands honest reflection from all Christians. Sarah Mullally now leads one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world. Whatever your denomination, whatever your view on women's ordination, she carries a heavy cross. The real question is not whether a woman can lead. The real question is whether she will hold the line on biblical truth in an age that demands surrender at every turn. The Gafcon movement's refusal to recognize her authority reveals deep fractures that cannot be papered over with ceremony. Mullally must prove she will defend the faith with the same courage she brought to nursing. The wolves are not at the gates. They are already inside.
Take Action
- Pray for Archbishop Sarah Mullally as she takes on the immense responsibility of leading 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
- Support persecuted Christians globally through The Shepherd's Shield and Open Doors.
- Contact the Church of England to encourage faithful biblical leadership: churchofengland.org/contact-us.
- Learn more about the Anglican Communion's challenges and divisions at Gafcon.org.
- Share this historic story with your church community and discuss what faithful Christian leadership looks like in the 21st century.
