On Wednesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales were the star guests at the installation of Sarah Mullally, the first woman to be chosen as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The choice of date was not accidental: March 25 coincides with the Annunciation of the Lord, the moment Mary accepted an unknown destiny. It is a parallel Mullally made explicit during her own remarks, telling the story of her conversion at age 16.
“As I look back over my life —at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus—I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead,” she said. This is a historic milestone: Mullally is the first woman to hold the office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its nearly 1,400-year history. She assumes the spiritual leadership of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion at a time of great national and international attention. Today, the Church of England has about 1.02 million active members in the United Kingdom, and about 85 million people belong to the Anglican Communion across more than 165 countries. Mullally’s appointment also represents a sign of openness and renewal for the Church globally, made even more significant by the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are ready to lend support and renew the collaboration between the monarchy and the religious institution. Mullally wanted to bring a deeply human dimension to this momentous event. “I think I’m just Sarah,” she told the BBC. Indeed, Mullally has an atypical profile compared to her predecessors, who came from more traditional and academic paths: she was the former head of nursing in Britain's National Health Service and the former bishop of London. She has said her hospital experience shaped the way she relates to others: listening, being available, and speaking an understandable language are the pillars of her ministry. At a time when religious institutions are seeking to rebuild trust, the new Archbishop aims for leadership that is less distant and more rooted in people's everyday lives. In many ways, this is in keeping with the modus operandi of the Prince of Wales. In February, Sarah was supported during the presentation ceremony in the House of Lords by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and the Bishop of Peterborough, Debbie Sellin. After that ceremony, Mullally said, “I commit to bringing a compassionate voice to my role as an advocate for equity, justice and hope.” She added that she wanted to draw on her pastoral and health care experience to work on legislation that improves the lives of all, believers and non-believers alike. A ceremony that celebrated the contribution of women in the church During the ritual, Mullally followed centuries-old traditions. She arrived at the West Door of Canterbury Cathedral and knocked three times with her crozier, symbolically asking permission to enter. Welcoming her were some students, whom she addressed with simple but emblematic words: that she had been “sent to serve,” to proclaim Christian love and share faith with the community. Inside, the ritual continued with an oath taken by Mullally laying her hand on St. John’s Bible, a precious illuminated manuscript used for the first time on this occasion. She was then seated on the historic Episcopal Chair and later on the 13th-century chair of St. Augustine. The ceremony took on a strong international dimension. Six different idioms were used, with readings and songs capable of crossing continents and cultures: from Urdu to Spanish to Bemba, a Zambian language. The marked emphasis on female presence did not go unnoticed, from the music, featuring compositions by contemporary female composers, to the participation of key church figures, to the procession that included some of the first African women bishops, who are sometimes called the “Africa Six.” A clear message: the Anglican Church is looking to the future through broader and more inclusive representation. But above all, it was Mullally’s first sermon that set the tone for her episcopate. In a direct address, she spoke not only of international tensions, calling for peace in a world scarred by conflict, but also the internal wounds within the Church. She also spoke openly about the pain of abuse victims, acknowledging the institution’s responsibilities: “actions, omissions and failures” that cannot be ignored. The inauguration was preceded by another symbolic journey: Mullally’s six-day pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, along ancient English spiritual routes. In her sermon she recalled that experience as a journey not only physical but also interior, shared with the community and deeply rooted in tradition. A new chapter for the Church and the monarchy: William’s “quiet faith” A source close to the Archbishop confided to the Sunday Times that Sarah Mullally was “really delighted” with the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, emphasizing the symbolic value of a direct dialogue between Church and monarchy. “Both the prince and the Archbishop are convinced that the Church should not be a private club for a few, but an accessible and relevant institution for all,” the source added. According to inside sources, Prince William wishes to establish a meaningful relationship with Mullally, knowing that the Archbishop will also preside over his future coronation and will, in fact, be his superior in the Church. A few days ago, the future king spoke openly about his relationship with religion, confirming what he calls a “quiet faith” and emphasizing his desire to create a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership. A source close to William told the Times that the ceremony represented a key opportunity for the prince to clarify his personal commitment to the Church of England. The source said, “His feeling is, ‘I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role and I will take it very seriously, in my own way.’” “Those who know him well recognize that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere,” the aide added. “Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will one day inherit, and they are things he approaches in his own thoughtful way.” Prince William understands that the Church is not just a historical institution, but a 'living expression of faith,' rooted in prayer, compassion, and the concept of grace and redemption. His approach aims to respect tradition without ignoring the needs of a modern audience, making the institutions closer to people's daily lives. Catherine, too, shares this approach: though she is seldom present at ordinary religious activities, the princess has shown in recent years a move closer to faith at significant personal moments, particularly during her battle with cancer. She has said she found solace and reflection through prayer and spirituality. The couple also aims to build ecumenical and interfaith ties, working with different communities to promote harmony and understanding between different faiths. Natalia Augias, the London correspondent for Italian network Tg1, said the same during an interview with Vanity Fair Italy last fall. “William is not a particularly religious man, but his vision of faith is modern, more related to social engagement than to ritual,” Augias said. “The Anglican Church today has changed a lot: just think of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, a progressive figure who talks about civil rights, equality, solidarity. It is a Church that works in the community, among young people, among the poor.” In this, Prince William differs totally from his father Charles III, whose faith has always been constant and tangible. The ruler regularly attends services, speaks openly about faith and moral reflection, and maintains deep-rooted ties to Anglican traditions. In that way, he follows the example of the late Queen Elizabeth II. His spirituality permeates both his public choices and private life, making him a symbolic figure of religious reference for the nation. William and Kate met with Archbishop Sarah Mullally on February 5 The Prince and Princess of Wales already had occasion to congratulate Mullally on her historic appointment when they met on February 5 in London. The royal couple, on that occasion, had been greeted by Dame Sarah Mullally on the steps of Lambeth Palace, the archbishop's residence for more than 800 years, and then posed for some photographs in the archbishop's study before an informal talk in which they discussed the role of the Church and the Royal Foundation’s involvement in the community. A royal aide later said William “is keen to build a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership.” The visit followed Mullally’s oath of allegiance to King Charles III, Supreme Ruler of the Church of England, at Buckingham Palace, a tradition dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. During the meeting, the atmosphere was relaxed and informal. William joked about the difficulty of navigating the vast spaces of Lambeth Palace, while Kate spoke about the gardens, emphasizing their role as spaces of reflection and tranquility for clergy and visitors. William and Kate’s official Instagram account described it as day of meetings “with spiritual leaders in London,” because they later took a meeting with the Aga Khan V, spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismailite Muslims. Church crisis in UK divided over crucial issues such as role of women With Sarah Mullally at the helm, the Church of England is entering a phase of renewal, with the aim of restoring credibility and unity after years of scandal and internal divisions. The Prince and Princess of Wales will be key allies on this transitional journey, which comes at a time of deep crisis for the British religious institution. Indeed, the legacy left by Mullally’s predecessor, Justin Welby, is a complicated one. Controversies over the handling of abuse cases have undermined the trust of the faithful and the public. The Anglican Church’s problems do not stop with scandals. The institution has long been divided over such crucial issues as the role of women and LGBTQ+ rights. Not all communities recognize women’s ordination, and this could translate into resistance to the new Archbishop as well. Tensions were heightened recently when the General Synod failed to agree on reforms related to same-sex unions, leaving one of the most delicate debates for the institution’s future unresolved. Mullally’s real challenge will be to rebuild trust and cohesion, and in this sense, her success may simply come from restoring stability after years of turbulence. Originally published in Vanity Fair Italy.
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