The Anglican Communion is a global family of churches present in 165 + countries around the world. This week, many primates and representatives from the Anglican Communion travelled to Canterbury to be part of the historic installation service for the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally was installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral on March 25, becoming the first female Archbishop of Canterbury to hold the office in its 1400-year history. The Installation marked the beginning of her public ministry.

The service was attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales and the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Guests, including faith leaders, charities, healthcare workers and school children, were also present. Many messages of support have been shared by those attending or praying for the service from their home settings.

The Anglican Communion Office

The Anglican Communion Office is the official secretariat to the worldwide communion. This week, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo (the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion) filmed a message of support. An excerpt said: ‘It is a joy to celebrate the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and to welcome so many representatives from Anglican churches around the world for this significant occasion. The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury carries an important pastoral and collegial ministry within our global Anglican Communion, working to foster Christian unity and partnership in proclaiming the hope of the Gospel. We assure Archbishop Sarah of our prayers as she serves God’s Church in this sacred calling.’

See the filmed message and statement of support or read it on Anglican News.

Africa

Leading up to the Installation, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba (Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of Southern Africa) shared a message of support on behalf of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, extending heartfelt congratulations. 'We pray that your leadership and calling will embody justice, mercy and humility, qualities often overlooked in challenging times marked by fierce competition, but which Micah reminds us are the foundations upon which nations are built and peace established. We hope that even as you minister to all, your ministry will reflect a deep concern for the environment as well as those on the margins who are in need of food, clean water, housing, clothing and healthcare. We pledge our support in your pursuit of the common good throughout our Communion, fostering stable, safe and just societies that honour everyone with respect in their material, emotional, spiritual and intellectual lives.’

See Archbishop Thabo's filmed message here. 

The Rt Revd Eraste Bigirimana (Coordinator of the Francophone Anglican Network and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bujumbura, Anglican Church of Burundi) extended sincere and warm congratulations to Archbishop Sarah on the occasion of the installation. ‘This event is a moment of grace and hope for the Church, and we give thanks to God for your faithful ministry, your witness of faith and your constant commitment to serving God’s people. Your spiritual and pastoral leadership is a source of inspiration for the Anglican Church throughout the world, including the Francophone Network within our Anglican Communion.

'The Francophone Anglican Network rejoices in this important milestone in your ministry and assures you of its fraternal communion as well as its fervent prayers that the Lord may grant you wisdom, discernment and strength in fulfilling the mission entrusted to you. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and sustain you in your service for the edification of the Church, the promotion of unity within the Anglican Communion, and the witness of the Gospel in our world.’

Shortly before the service, the Most Revd Ian Ernest, Former Primate of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean and former representative to the Holy See in Rome on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, shared a message of support for Archbishop Sarah, calling the day a 'historic moment'.

Joyce Haji Liundi of the Anglican Consultative Council Standing Committee and the Anglican Church of Tanzania, said that she was 'encouraged' by the Installation of a woman as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, calling her 'capable and a very strong woman'. She told Anglican News that she is looking forward to the global impact of Archbishop Sarah's leadership. 

The Americas

In the days leading up to the Installation service, the Most Revd Marinez Rosa Dos Santos Bassotto (Primate of Brazil and Bishop of the Amazon) shared a message of support. ‘As we prepare as a great worldwide family of churches to celebrate the installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury, I wish on behalf of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil to affirm our joy and our prayers for her life and ministry. May God protect Archbishop Sarah and ever increase in her the love, the strength and courage necessary to lead the church in the times we are living through. In this society, fragile and burdened by exclusion, hatred and war, may she be a sign and instrument of our unity and also our voice in the midst of the world. God bless Archbishop Sarah Mullally and strengthen her in her life and ministry.’

Watch a video of Archbishop Marinez's message. 

The Most Revd Sally Sue Hernández García (the newly elected Primate of Mexico) did a reading during the Installation service, in Spanish. Shortly before the service, Archbishop Sally shared her enthusiastic 'greetings and prayers' for Archbishop Sarah 'from Mexico City'. 

Europe

In the days preceding the service, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin (the Bishop of Dover in the Church of England) shared, ‘I am delighted to welcome our new diocesan bishop to the historic Diocese of Canterbury.' Regarding the significance of the date of the service of Installation on the Feast of the Annunciation, Bishop Rose said this 'symbolically reminds us of another woman, Mary. She said “Yes” to the angel Gabriel and was entrusted to carry the Living Word. Like Mary, Dame Sarah has said “Yes” to lead the Diocese of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion. The reality of her inhabiting the historic role of Archbishop reaffirms the trust that God places on us as women to be bearers of his message of Good News.’

Read a recent article about the Installation service from the Diocese of Canterbury.

The Most Revd Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, reflected on how inspiring Archbishop Sarah is, as the first woman to become the Archbishop of Canterbury. After the service at Canterbury Cathedral, he said that when he was training to become ordained, women were not yet ordained and 'now not only are they [women] ordained, but they are the Archbishop of Canterbury!' 

The Middle East and South Asia

A message of Support from the Most Revd Nester Poltic (Prime Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines) in the days before the Installation, read 'This will be a doubly historic occasion as it will be the first time in the 1,400-year history of the post that a woman will be seated at the chair of St. Augustine… Her leadership, marked by courage, compassion and wisdom, is a true gift to our Church in these challenging, complex times.

‘My presence at the enthronement will signify our unwavering support and solidarity with the new spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion… As we shall pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance, wisdom and blessing upon the new ministry of the Archbishop, let us also pray for unity within the Anglican Communion, healing for the world, and renewal of confidence in the Gospel.’

Read the message here.

Oceania & East Asia

In the days before the Installation, the Most Revd Don Tamihere (Te Pīhopa Mātāmua and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia) shared a prayer for Archbishop Sarah:

'God of majesty and wonder,
Like the woman Mary
who brought forth your Son into this world,
and the women whom you called
to be first witnesses of his resurrection,
may your servant Sarah,
whom you have called by your Spirit to serve
as Archbishop of Canterbury,
be ever blessed and courageous,
and by your Grace, herald among us new life and new light,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
Amen.'

Immediately before the service, Archbishop Don told Anglican News that 'today is a great day of celebration. Many of us have travelled a long way...to show our support in person for Dame Sarah.' He said that the experience of the 'historic' day was of a 'family celebrating together'.

The Most Revd Sione Ulu'ilakepa (Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia), after the Installation service, remarked that he felt he was witnessing 'history in the making' which 'changes the whole landscape of the Anglican Church and our understanding of Christianity... the Leadership of Archbishop Sarah will be exciting to see God guiding us in a new way. A new way of relating to each other, a new way of creating relationships and a new way of living out what it means to be Christians'.

The Most Revd David Eisho Uehara (Primate of Nippon Sei Ko Kai, Japan), following the service, shared his thoughts that it was 'really wonderful that they've chosen a female Archbishop of Canterbury and it's a wonderful thing for the Anglican Communion.' 

The first four women Primates of the Anglican Communion

Ahead of the Installation, the Episcopal News Service spoke with the first four women Primates of the Anglican Communion to gain insight into their leadership experiences. The Rt Revd Katharine Jefferts Schori (the first female Primate in the Anglican Communion and former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, 2006 to 2015), the Most Revd Linda Nicholls (former Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, 2019 to 2024), the Most Revd Marinez Rosa Dos Santos Bassotto (Primate of Brazil and Bishop of the Amazon) and the Most Revd Cherry Vann (Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth) were featured.

In the interview, the Most Revd Cherry Vann (Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth) shared this message of encouragement for Archbishop Sarah: ‘When God calls us to a role, then God equips us for that role, and I think she has so much to offer and hope to bring to the Anglican Communion as well as to the Church of England. I hope that despite the many challenges that she faces, and will face, that she will always be able to rest and be strengthened by the knowledge that she is there because God has called her to that role.’

The Most Revd Linda Nicholls (the Anglican Church of Canada’s primate from 2019 to 2024) spoke of the ‘incredible privilege’ of being a woman Primate. She said, ‘I hope and pray that [Archbishop] Sarah will be a kind of sign across the Communion and especially in those places where women are not ordained and don’t have the opportunity to share their gifts in the same ways, that she will be able, by her role, to enter into those places and that suddenly young women, young girls will look up [to her].’

The Rt Revd Katharine Jefferts Schori (the first female Primate in the Anglican Communion and Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church) shared words of advice to Archbishop Sarah as she begins her public ministry, encouraging her to 'be present in the gift of creation.'

See the Episcopal News Service interview with the first four women Primates of the Anglican Communion here.

More information

Learn more about the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Learn more about the Installation service.

See a short video compiling voices from around the Anglican Communion reacting to the Installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Watch the stream of the Installation service on demand on the Church of England YouTube channel.