Church of England Breaks the "Glass Ceiling" with First Female Archbishop

Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, Appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury
First Female Leader in the 490-Year History of the Church of England

For the first time in history, a woman has been appointed as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide. This marks the first time in the 490-year history of the Church of England (Anglican Church) that a woman has assumed this position.

According to Yonhap News on October 4, citing AFP and other foreign media, King Charles III of the United Kingdom on October 3 (local time) appointed Sarah Mullally (63), Bishop of London, as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She succeeds former Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned amid allegations of covering up child sexual abuse.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is not only the de facto head of the Church of England but also holds great symbolic significance as the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which consists of 34 autonomous provinces. This is the first time a woman has led the Church of England since it was established in 1534, when Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic Church.

Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England (Anglican Church). Photo by Yonhap News

Mullally, who began her career as a nurse, was ordained as a priest in 2002 and became the first female Bishop of London in 2018. The Bishop of London is the fifth highest-ranking position in the Church of England, and her appointment at the time was seen as breaking the so-called "glass ceiling" within the church. Mullally previously served as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for England before turning to ministry, and has taken progressive stances, including supporting blessings for same-sex couples.

In a statement released immediately after her nomination, she said, "My calling is to listen to the voices of survivors, care for the vulnerable, and create a church where everyone is safe and respected." Foreign media outlets reported that, like her predecessors, she faces the challenge of bridging the gap between the conservative and progressive factions within the church.

The news was also welcomed in South Korea. In a statement released on the same day, the Anglican Church of Korea described it as a "groundbreaking event, with a woman becoming Archbishop of Canterbury for the first time in the 1,500-year history of the Anglican Church," and expressed hope for the changes that new female leadership would bring to the Anglican community. The statement also added, "This historic election will be a great encouragement to those striving for gender equality and leadership for women worldwide," and said, "We pray for Archbishop Mullally's leadership."

The Anglican Church of Korea was elevated to an independent province in 1993 and exercises autonomy, maintaining communion and unity with the Archbishop of Canterbury in a 'primus inter pares' (first among equals) relationship.

Meanwhile, Mullally will officially begin her duties as archbishop with an enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in January next year. A coronation ceremony attended by the British royal family is also scheduled to follow.