King Charles cheers first female Archbishop of Canterbury

King Charles has warmly congratulated Dame Sarah Mullally on her historic appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, describing the role as “of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion,” Buckingham Palace confirmed.

Dame Sarah, who will formally assume the position after a confirmation of election in January and a subsequent enthronement ceremony, spoke from Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, emphasising her commitment to unity, safeguarding, and confronting hatred.

“In an age that craves certainty and tribalism, Anglicanism offers something quieter but stronger,” she said, pledging to address past safeguarding failures that have “left a legacy of deep harm and mistrust.”

Responding to Thursday’s attack on a synagogue in Manchester, Dame Sarah condemned antisemitism and all forms of hatred, stating, “We as a Church have a responsibility to be a people who stand with the Jewish community. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart.”

While her appointment marks a historic milestone for the Church of England, the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, representing more conservative views, expressed reservations, noting that “the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.”