First female leader of Church of England confirmedReuters and AP, LONDONSarah Mullally was officially confirmed on Wednesday as the first woman to lead the Church of England as Archbishop of Canterbury in a traditional ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Dame Sarah Mullally listens during her Confirmation of Election ceremony, legally confirming her as the Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday. Photo: ReutersThe British monarch has served as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England since Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. As the lengthy process came to a close and her election was confirmed, Mullally stood and faced the congregation to loud applause. She will also have to confront concerns that the Church of England has not done enough to stamp out the sexual abuse scandals that have dogged it for more than a decade.

Source: Taipei Times January 29, 2026 17:44 UTC