Dame Sarah Mullally to become first female Archbishop of Canterbury in March, succeeding Justin Welby amid safeguarding controversies.

Amidst the ongoing fallout from safeguarding failures, Justin Welby will be replaced by Dame Sarah Mullally, the first woman elected as Archbishop of Canterbury, who is scheduled to be confirmed in March. She has promised to lead with composure, consistency, and compassion, emphasizing healing, justice, and care for the weak. She was previously Bishop of London and England's chief nursing officer. Before being installed, she will meet with religious leaders, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the King. An appeal is still possible even though a recent complaint about how she handled an abuse allegation was rejected. The Anglican Communion has 85 million adherents in more than 165 countries, and the Church of England reported 1.02 million regular worshippers in 2024. Her wisdom and dedication to reform have been commended by church leaders.