STORY: Britain appointed Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday (October 3), the first time a woman has been named leader of the Church of England in the 1,400 year history of the role.

Mullally also becomes the ceremonial head of some 85 million Anglicans worldwide, with the appointment of a woman risking deeper theological divides with some of the more conservative branches of the church in African nations.

Reforms introduced 11 years ago made it possible for a woman to hold the office, and by being named as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Mullally becomes the female leader of one of last areas of British public life to have been led by men.

But for Anglicans globally, about two-thirds of whom live in countries like Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, the appointment of the first female Archbishop could further highlight their difference with the mother church in England.

Mullally, 63, is a former nurse who worked as England's Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s. She has advocated for creating an open and transparent culture in churches which allows for difference and disagreement.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UK names Sarah Mullally as first female Archbishop to lead Church of England

VIDEO SHOWS: NEWLY-APPOINTED ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, SARAH MULLALLY, TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NORWICH

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NORWICH, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 3, 2025) (UK POOL - No use UK, except UK newspapers)

1. VARIOUS OF NEWLY-APPOINTED ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, SARAH MULLALLY, TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS

2. VARIOUS OF MULLALLY PACKING GROCERIES

3. CROSS ON MULLALLY

4. VARIOUS OF MULLALLY TALKING TO VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

5. VARIOUS OF MULLALLY DISTRIBUTING GROCERIES