First female Archbishop of Canterbury takes office

Sarah Mullally was formally installed as Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday, beginning her public ministry as the first woman to lead the Church of England during a solemn enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral.

She now becomes spiritual head of the global Anglican Communion, a network of more than 100 million members worldwide. The Church of England ordained women priests in 1994 and consecrated its first female bishop in 2015.

Ahead of the ceremony, police carried out security sweeps around the cathedral, including searches with sniffer dogs, as crowds gathered outside Canterbury Cathedral. The installation drew public attention and marked a historic moment for the global Anglican community.

Her installation is seen as a landmark moment in the Church of England's modern history, reflecting its evolving leadership and continuing reforms, while also signalling continuity of tradition within one of Christianity's most influential global institutions. worldwide church.