Dame Sarah Mullally poses for a portrait after being named the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England's nearly 500-year history at Canterbury Cathedral Friday. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican faith. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA
Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The new Archbishop of Canterbury designate is Dame Sarah Mullally, the first woman in the position.
Mullally, 63, is a former chief nurse and became a priest in 2006. She was named the first female bishop of London in 2018, which is the third-most senior clergy member in the Church of England.
In her first public statement Friday she condemned the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester. She said "hatred and racism cannot tear us apart."
The Church of England announced in a statement: "The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Canterbury nominated Bishop Sarah following a process of public consultation and prayerful discernment that began in February this year."
