Sarah Mullally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of London | |
Official portrait, 2019
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| Church | Church of England |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | London |
| Elected | 25 January 2018 |
| Enthroned | 12 May 2018 |
| Predecessor | Richard Chartres |
| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2001 (deacon) 2002 (priest) |
| Consecration | 22 July 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Sarah Elisabeth Bowser |
| Born | 26 March 1962 Woking, Surrey, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | City of London |
| Spouse |
Eamonn Mullally
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
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Dame Sarah Mullally (born Sarah Elisabeth Bowser on 26 March 1962) is a British church leader and a former nurse. She has been the Bishop of London since 2018. She is the first woman to hold this important position. As Bishop of London, she also has a special role in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Before becoming a bishop, Sarah Mullally had a successful career in nursing. From 1999 to 2004, she was the main nurse for England, known as the Chief Nursing Officer. She also worked to improve how patients experienced healthcare. Later, from 2015 to 2018, she served as the Bishop of Crediton.
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Early Life and Education
Sarah Elisabeth Bowser was born on 26 March 1962. She grew up in Woking, Surrey, and went to Winston Churchill Comprehensive School. She also attended Woking Sixth Form College. While studying, she decided to become a nurse instead of a doctor. She wanted to care for patients in a way that looked at their whole well-being, not just their illness. Her Christian faith, which she found at age 16, also guided her choice.
In 1980, she began studying nursing at South Bank Polytechnic. She gained practical experience at St Thomas' Hospital. In 1984, she earned her nursing degree and became a Registered General Nurse. She continued her studies and in 1992, she completed a Master of Science degree at London South Bank University.
Nursing Career
Sarah Mullally worked as a nurse at St Thomas' Hospital and The Royal Marsden Hospital. She also held leadership roles in nursing. At Westminster Hospital, she was a Ward Sister, which is a senior nurse in charge of a ward. She also led efforts to improve nursing practices. Later, she became the director of nursing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She even served as the acting chief executive officer there.
In 1999, she became the Chief Nursing Officer for England. This meant she was the most senior nurse in the country. She was also the Director of Patient Experience for England, working to make sure patients had good experiences in the NHS. She was the youngest person ever to hold these important jobs.
After leaving her role as Chief Nursing Officer, Sarah Mullally continued to contribute to healthcare. She was an independent Governor for London South Bank University for ten years. She also served on the boards of other health organizations, like the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Church Leadership Journey
From 1998 to 2001, Sarah Mullally trained to become a church minister. She studied theology at the University of Kent. In 2001, she became a deacon in the Church of England. A deacon is a minister who helps the priest. The next year, in 2002, she became a priest. She served as a part-time minister in Battersea Fields from 2001 to 2004.
In 2004, Mullally decided to focus on her church work full-time. She continued as an assistant curate at St Saviour's Church, Battersea Fields. In 2006, she earned a Master of Arts degree in pastoral theology. That same year, she became the Team Rector of Sutton team ministry. This meant she led a group of churches in Sutton. She also taught ethics and was involved in leadership programs for clergy. From 2012 to 2015, she worked at Salisbury Cathedral as the Canon Treasurer.
Becoming a Bishop
In June 2015, it was announced that Sarah Mullally would become the next Bishop of Crediton. This is a type of bishop who helps the main bishop in a diocese. On 22 July 2015, she was made a bishop by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at Canterbury Cathedral. She and Rachel Treweek were the first women to become bishops at this historic cathedral. In September 2015, she made history again by being the first woman in the Church of England to lead an ordination service. She ordained two deacons as priests.
On 18 December 2017, it was announced that she would become the next Bishop of London. She took over from Richard Chartres. As Bishop of London, she is the third most senior bishop in the Church of England. Only the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are more senior. She officially became the Bishop of London on 8 March 2018. She began her full duties after her installation at St Paul's Cathedral on 12 May 2018. On 15 July 2020, she led the service to make two new bishops. This was a significant moment, as it was the first time a female bishop had led such a service in the Church of England.
On 24 May 2018, Bishop Mullally joined the House of Lords. She sits on the benches reserved for church leaders. She also became the first female Dean of the Chapel Royal on 12 July 2019. Bishop Mullally played an important role in the 2023 coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. She was one of three female church leaders involved in the ceremony.
Views and Beliefs
Sarah Mullally describes herself as a feminist. She supports both men and women becoming priests. She is seen as having a more open and modern approach to theology. However, she also respects those in the Church of England who do not agree with women being ordained. She believes that different views should be welcomed within the church.
Bishop Mullally supports the Church of England's traditional teaching on marriage, which is between one man and one woman. However, she has also spoken about the importance of showing love to everyone. She has said that the church should reflect "the God of love, who loves everybody." In 2022, she supported LGBT+ History Month. She also helped launch a group to advise the diocese on how to care for and include LGBT+ people in church communities.
When it comes to difficult choices, Bishop Mullally has said she supports people having the right to make their own decisions. She has also shared that for her own choices, she would lean towards protecting life.
Personal Life
In 1987, Sarah Mullally married Eamonn Mullally. They have two children, a daughter and a son.
After becoming the Bishop of London, she moved into the Old Deanery near St Paul's Cathedral. She made some changes to the building, including creating a special prayer room. She uses this room for prayer and worship.
Sarah Mullally has shared that she has dyslexia. This means she sometimes finds it hard to read certain texts, like long lists of names in the Bible.
Honours and Awards
In 2005, Sarah Mullally was given a special honour by the Queen. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This award recognized her great work in nursing and midwifery. Unlike men who become knights, women who become Dames can use the title "Dame." However, it is her choice whether she uses it.
She has also received many academic honours. In 2001, she became a Fellow of London South Bank University. She also received honorary doctorates from several universities, including Bournemouth University and the University of Wolverhampton.
See also
In Spanish: Sarah Mullally para niños
