First-Ever Female Archbishop of Canterbury Appointed After 1,428 Years

The Church of England is taking a historic step.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, it was announced that Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally will become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury — and the first woman to hold the position since it was created for St. Augustine in the year 597.

The role was later taken over by the Church of England, after it was founded in 1534 under the reign of King Henry VIII.

Mullally’s appointment was personally approved by King Charles, according to a release.

When she is installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026, Mullally, 63, will also become the first female to hold the position since women were allowed to become bishops in the Church of England in 2014.

The role is the third most senior member of the clergy in the church, per the BBC. King Charles, 76, is the official head of the church, while the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

“As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager,” Mullally said of her new appointment, per the release.

Before becoming a priest in 2006, Mullally worked to become the youngest-ever chief nurse within the U.K.’s National Health Service at the age of 37, after specializing as a cancer nurse. The married mother-of-two then became the first female Bishop of London in 2018.

Reflecting on her career of pioneering, she said, “At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply — to people and to God’s gentle prompting — to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing,” per the release.

“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions,” Mullally continued. “And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.” 

“I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has,” she added.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Mullally’s appointment comes 11 months after Justin Welby resigned after a report criticized his handling of a safeguarding case involving a prolific child abuser associated with the church. 

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell took on many of Welby’s responsibilities in the interim, according to the BBC. However, he has also faced calls to step down due to his handling of an abuse case.

Several key events are set to take place before Mullally legally becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury, including an Election by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral before Christmas and the Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral in January.

“I welcome the appointment of The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally D.B.E as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the role,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. 

“The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities,” he continued.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,” Starmer concluded.