©Pexels
Last Wednesday, the Canterbury Cathedral hosted an unprecedented ceremony: Sarah Mullally was inducted as the first woman archbishop of the Church of England, at the head of a community of some 85 million faithful worldwide.
The event, a first in 500 years, was attended by almost two thousand people, including Prince William and Princess Catherine, making it a historic and highly symbolic moment for the Anglican Communion.
Following a centuries-old tradition, Sarah Mullally knocked three times on the cathedral's west door before being welcomed, a gesture that embodies both respect for ancient rules and the opening of a new chapter. Dressed in an intense yellow-gold habit, she responded to the students who were waiting curiously for her:
"I have been sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and, with you, to adore and love him with all our heart and soul, with all our mind and strength," she declared.
The highlight of the ceremony was Mullally taking possession of two thrones, symbolizing the dual responsibility of leading the Diocese of Canterbury and embodying the spiritual figure of reference for Anglicans worldwide. Mullally reaffirmed the Church's commitment to ensuring safe environments and supporting victims of abuse: her experience in the healthcare sector has given her a particular sensitivity to trauma and the care of vulnerable people.
Sarah Mullally, 63, worked for over thirty years in the British National Health Service before taking Holy Orders, becoming Chief Nurse for England in 1999. Ordained a priest at the age of 40, she quickly rose through the ranks of the Anglican Church, becoming the first female Bishop of London in 2018. Married with two children, she is now the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
Sarah Mullally's election marks a historic turning point, showing how a thousand-year-old institution can evolve. This process has long been underway in the Anglican Church, where women's access to the clergy dates back to the early 1990s. To date, over 40 of England's 108 bishops are women, with a similar proportion among priests.
(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction / Picture: ©Pexels)