Former chief nurse to be first female Archbishop of Canterbury
A former chief nursing officer (CNO) for England has been chosen as the first woman to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
The King has approved Dame Sarah Mullally to take up the position in January next year.
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Dame Sarah served as CNO for England from 1999 until 2004, having previously specialised as a cancer nurse.
She left her position as CNO in 2004 to take up a full time Church of England ministry.
She has been Bishop of London and a member of the House of Lords since 2018, as well as Dean of the Chapels Royal since 2019.
The prime minister Keir Starmer said today: ‘I welcome the appointment of The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally D.B.E as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the role.
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‘The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.
‘The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together.’
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Lord Evans of Weardale, chairman of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury, said he will be ‘praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months’.
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