Sarah Mullally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE |
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| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Church | Church of England |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Elected | 28 January 2026 |
| Predecessor | Justin Welby |
| 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, England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | City of London |
| Spouse |
Eamonn Mullally
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Previous post |
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| Education |
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| Signature |  |
Sarah Mullally, born on March 26, 1962, is an important leader in the Church of England. She is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, a role she started on January 28, 2026. This means she is the main leader of the Church of England and a key figure in the worldwide Anglican Communion. She is also a Lord Spiritual, which means she is one of the Church of England bishops who are part of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Before becoming a church leader, Sarah Mullally was a dedicated nurse. She trained at St Thomas' Hospital and worked in nursing for many years, mostly in South London. She even became the Chief Nursing Officer for the English National Health Service in 1999, helping to improve patient care across England. For her excellent work in nursing, she received a special honour in 2005, becoming a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
She began her church ministry in 2002 as a priest. Over the years, she took on more important roles, becoming a bishop in 2015. In 2018, she made history by becoming the first woman to serve as the Bishop of London.
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Growing Up and School Days
Sarah Elisabeth Bowser was born in Woking, Surrey, England, on March 26, 1962. She grew up with two sisters and one brother. She attended Winston Churchill Comprehensive School and later Woking Sixth Form College.
When she was deciding on her career, Sarah chose to become a nurse. She wanted to care for people in a complete way, looking after their overall well-being. Her strong Christian faith, which she has had since she was 16, also guided her choice. In 1980, she started 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. Later, in 1992, she earned a master's degree from London South Bank University.
A Career in Nursing Leadership
Sarah Mullally worked as a nurse at famous hospitals like St Thomas' Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital. She quickly moved into leadership roles. She became a ward sister and then a director of nursing at other hospitals.
In 1999, she achieved a very important position: Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England. This meant she was the top nurse in the country, helping to make sure patients received the best care. She was the youngest person ever to hold this role.
Because of her amazing work in nursing, she was given a special award in 2005. She became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which is a high honour in the UK. She also served on the boards of several universities and health organizations, sharing her expertise.
Becoming a Church Leader
Sarah Mullally began training to become a minister in the Church of England in 1998. She studied theology, which is the study of religious faith and practice. In 2001, she became a deacon, which is the first step in becoming a priest. The next year, in 2002, she was ordained as a priest.
In 2004, she decided to dedicate herself fully to her church work. She left her important nursing job to become a full-time minister. She served in different churches and continued her studies, earning a master's degree in pastoral theology in 2006. She then became a team rector at St Nicholas Church, Sutton, London, leading a group of churches. She also taught about ethics and helped guide other church leaders. From 2012 to 2015, she worked at Salisbury Cathedral.
Becoming a Bishop
In 2015, Sarah Mullally became a bishop for the first time, serving as the Bishop of Crediton. She was consecrated, which means formally made a bishop, by Archbishop Justin Welby at Canterbury Cathedral. This was a historic moment, as she and Rachel Treweek were the first women to be consecrated as bishops there. Later that year, she also became the first woman in the Church of England to lead a service where new priests were ordained.
In 2018, Sarah Mullally made history again when she became the first woman to be the Bishop of London. This is a very important role, as the Bishop of London is the third most senior bishop in the Church of England. She officially took on her duties at St Paul's Cathedral on May 12, 2018.
As Bishop of London, she also became a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, known as a Lord Spiritual. She also became the first female dean of the Chapel Royal in 2019. She played an important part in the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Becoming Archbishop of Canterbury
On October 3, 2025, the Church of England announced that Sarah Mullally would become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, taking over from Justin Welby. This is a very significant role, making her the main leader of the Church of England. She is the first woman ever to hold this important position.
Her election was officially confirmed at St Paul's Cathedral on January 28, 2026. On this day, she officially became the Archbishop of Canterbury and stopped being the Bishop of London. She will have a special ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on March 25 to mark the start of her public duties in this new role.
Her appointment was met with different reactions. Some groups within the Anglican church had concerns about her leadership. However, other Anglican leaders, especially some in Africa, expressed their support and excitement for her new role.
Personal Life
In 1987, Sarah Mullally married Eamonn Mullally, who works in information technology. They have a daughter and a son. They live in the City of London.
Sarah Mullally has dyslexia, which means she sometimes finds it challenging to read certain texts, like long lists of names in the Bible.
Awards and Recognition
In 2005, Sarah Mullally was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This high honour recognized her important contributions to nursing.
She has also received many academic honours. She became a fellow of London South Bank University in 2001 and Canterbury Christ Church University in 2006. She has also been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including Bournemouth University (2004) and the University of Exeter (2019).
See also
In Spanish: Sarah Mullally para niños
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