First woman Archbishop of Canterbury begins public ministry as head of Church of England

Sarah Mallaley, a 63-year-old former cancer nurse, officially became Archbishop of Canterbury in January. On Wednesday her public ministry as head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Anglican community formally begins. Mallaley became a priest at age 40, and the service is expected to publicly affirm her election as the first woman to lead the Church of England.

Speaking last year after her appointment, Mallaley said: “I intend to be a shepherd, one that enables us to flourish in the ministry and in the calling of everyone who does not have our traditions.”

Prince William and Princess Catherine are expected to attend, along with the prime minister of Great Britain and representatives of many of the Church of England’s 42 churches. Delegates from the Vatican and the Orthodox Church are also expected.

The service will take place on the Day of the Annunciation, which marks the moment when Mary was told she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. The Church observes the day by honoring the greatest women of the Bible and reflecting on how believers can respond to God’s call, a fitting date for Mallaley’s historic appointment, faithfully answering a calling (Colossians 3:23).

The Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s under King Henry VIII. It ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.

The source also describes an association of churches, including the Episcopal Church in the United States, that has a combined total of more than 100 million members.

Mallaley begins her role at a difficult time for the Church of England. The report states that the Church has significant differences over the role of women and over attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people, and it suggests that her leadership may deepen divisions within the community.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Ukrainian)