On March 26, 2027 Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, was installed “first amongst equals” as the spiritual lead of the Church of England – and in an already fractured Global Anglican Communion – this was considered to some anathma.
“It will make a mockery of the Global Anglican Communion if those who attended G26 in Abuja are celebrating the installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Similarly, If a number of Primates from the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, who have previously stated that they,” were no longer able to recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury as the ‘first amongst equals’ leader of the global Communion,” attend, it will undermine the idea that a shift in leadership has taken place.“
– quote from Anglican Ink, from Anglican Futures
In the same article, they point out that, “The service will be led by the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Revd Dr David Monteith, an openly gay priest in a same-sex civil partnership.”
The English church has only have allowed female priests since 1994, but the synod in China ordained Florence Li Tim-Oi in 1944 (specifically they say due to WW2), the synods in Hong Kong and Macao began in 1971, the Episcopal Church USA and the Church of Canada began in 1974-75, this remains a significant change to the 83 million people in the Global Anglican Communion, and it will not be without more controversy (as the previous paragraph illustrates). The offended churches are largely in Africa, where they tend to be extremely conservative.
For me as a queer human, I watched the concecration of V. Gene Robinson with awe, because it was the first time I had seen an openly gay man in a religious role. I can imagine women in England doing the same, but more so because this is their faith’s spiritual leader (While the Monarch still formally appoints Archbishops and Bishops, they do so based on advice from the Prime Minister, making the power effectively parliamentary).
Henry VIII formally split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 through the passing of the Act of Supremacy. This act declared him the “Supreme Head of the Church of England,” ending the Pope’s authority in England, driven by his need to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. The break was finalized by a series of Parliamentary acts between 1532 and 1534. As a reenactor who has portrayed Henry VIII many times over 26 years, I have to wonder what Henry would think about his power play to allow an annulment from his first wife (and to enrich his government through the looting of the monasteries… but that’s another story) and how it has evolved spiritual nautical miles from where it started!
“Installing Sarah as our first female archbishop would have almost been unimaginable even 50 years ago,” said the Very Rev. Dr. David Monteith, dean of Canterbury Cathedral, speaking ahead of the ceremony. “Today matters.”
Her Grace the Archbishop has quite the background. In 1999, she was appointed as chief nursing officer and director of patient experience for England: she was the youngest person to hold these positions. In 2005 she was knighted as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to health and midwifery.
Ahead of her installation, Archbishop Mullally embarked on her own 87-mile pilgrimage, walking for six days from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury. She is the first archbishop in the modern era to make the journey.
Blessings to the new Archbishop of Canterbury in her new role, and may she lead with dignity, empathy, and grace.
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