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Dame Sarah Mullally is set to make history as the first woman to be installed as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral. This significant moment marks the beginning of her public service in the role, a position held by 105 men ever since St Augustine’s appointment in 597 AD. The installation, often referred to as an enthronement, carries deep symbolic meaning in the Church of England. Women have only been permitted to be priests since 1994, making Dame Sarah’s appointment a milestone in the church’s evolution.
Ahead of the ceremony, Dame Sarah shared with the BBC that the event would prominently feature “women’s voices right the way through it.” The service will be attended by around 2,000 guests, including NHS nurses and carers from the Canterbury area, reflecting the archbishop’s previous career in nursing. The Prince and Princess of Wales will represent King Charles and witness Dame Sarah’s first sermon in her new role. Despite a meningitis outbreak in the city, officials confirmed that no adjustments to the planned events were necessary.
Dame Sarah’s personal journey is unique and influential. Beginning her career as a nurse in 1980, she became the youngest chief nursing officer for England in 1999. She continued in this capacity when, in 2002, she was ordained as a priest. Later, in 2018, she became the first female Bishop of London. In an act of spiritual preparation, she undertook a pilgrimage of nearly 90 miles from St Paul’s Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral shortly before her installation. The service itself will incorporate this theme of pilgrimage, featuring ceremonies that progress from the west door of the cathedral to its easternmost end.
The installation service incorporates a blend of tradition and modern touches. Dame Sarah will knock on the cathedral’s West Door three times with her pastoral staff and be greeted by local schoolchildren. She will then take an oath on the Saint John’s Bible—the first new Bible used in such a ceremony since 1945, symbolizing modernization. Her installation will proceed with seating in the Cathedral Chair as Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, followed by the historic Chair of St Augustine, affirming her status as Primate of All England. The service will also reflect the diversity of the Anglican Communion, including hymns and readings in Urdu, Spanish, and the Bemba language of Zambia.
While Dame Sarah has received support from both women and men throughout her ministry, she acknowledges the significance of being the first female Archbishop and hopes her appointment inspires others to pursue their dreams. Nonetheless, traditional opposition remains within parts of the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion, with some clergy, particularly in Nigeria, selecting an alternative leader in defiance of her appointment.
Looking ahead, Dame Sarah will confront longstanding issues facing church leadership, including debates over same-sex unions and ongoing concerns about safeguarding. Following the resignation of her predecessor Justin Welby amid criticism regarding abuse case management, her approach to protecting victims will be under considerable scrutiny. “In my thoughts and my prayers continue to be victims and survivors of abuse and the Church has sought to improve what we do,” she emphasized. She expressed openness to transparency, stating, “Light should be shone on all our actions. And the more senior we are, the more light should be shone. That is absolutely right.” Drawing on her varied experiences as a nurse, priest, and bishop, Dame Sarah pledged to work toward making the Church “safer.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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