🔗 Share this article Sarah Mullally Selected as First Female Leader of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the inaugural woman leader of the Church of England, with Downing Street announcing the new spiritual leader of Canterbury almost twelve months following Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This represents the inaugural instance an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. The top cleric is considered the religious head of the Anglican church all over the world and also possesses a position in the upper parliamentary chamber. The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell handled key tasks in the interim, and was one of the voting members of the group responsible for selecting the next archbishop. The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) had to agree to the new appointment by a supermajority decision. Once decided, according to custom, the process involves a name being given to the PM, currently Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the king. She will not officially begin the role until a confirmation of election in January, with an induction rite scheduled afterward, after homage is rendered to the monarch.