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Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the incoming spiritual leader of the Church of England - creating a milestone as the initial female to be picked for this significant position.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the sixty-three-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was named as the first female Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of religious leadership in the Church of England.

This marks the first time in nearly 500 years of tradition that the Anglican Communion has nominated a woman to guide its direction.

Historic Selection

The Anglican Church has been lacking an individual in the senior role for almost a year after the previous Archbishop resigned over a protection controversy.

He stepped down following a damning report into a serial offender associated with the religious institution. The report found that he "was able and obligated" have reported John Smyth's abuse of male youths to law enforcement in 2013.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell assumed most of the former Archbishop's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was one of the voting members of the body charged with choosing his successor.

Political Process

In line with tradition, the process of selecting a new archbishop involves a name being given to the Prime Minister and then passed to the monarch.

The Prime Minister has applauded the selection of Dame Sarah, saying: "The Archbishop of Canterbury will serve an important function in our country's affairs. I offer my best wishes and look forward to working together."

While, technically, the King is head of the Anglican Church, the individual holding the position of spiritual leader is the highest-ranking cleric and is the spiritual leader of the religious institution and the global Anglican community.

Royal and International Reaction

The monarch has praised Dame Sarah on her appointment, "which is of such importance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion", the royal household announced.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which represents conservative views, has criticised the appointment, stating that although certain groups support the decision, "most members of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a all-male bishopric."

Transition Period

She will not formally assume her new role until a formal approval process in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes subsequently, after they have pledged allegiance to the monarch.

In a statement on the announcement day after her new role was confirmed, she said: "I know this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a sense of peace and faith in divine guidance to support me as has consistently occurred."

Addressing media at the historic church, she noted that "during a period that craves certainty and group identity, the Anglican tradition provides a more subtle approach but more resilient."

Responding to Attack

Addressing the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester, she said "we observe prejudice that rises up through fractures across our communities."

She continued: "The religious community have a responsibility to be a group who support the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in all its forms. Hatred and racism of all types cannot be allowed to divide our society."

Background and Career

Married with two children, she devoted more than three decades in the NHS, becoming the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the religious community at the period, it was just a few years later that she chose to enter a priest and was promptly assigned helping make reforms in the way the institution addressed misconduct.

In that year she became financial administrator at Salisbury Cathedral before assuming the role of diocesan leader in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was seen as someone who used her experience as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Guiding Principles

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had different professional paths, first in the health service and currently in the Church.

"I like to consider that I have consistently maintained a single calling: to follow Jesus Christ, to understand his teachings and to share his message, always seeking to demonstrate empathy in the assistance to people, whether as a nurse, a priest, or a church official."

Future Challenges

Perhaps the most urgent thing in her in-tray is still to chart a better path towards dealing with abuse and treating with more compassion those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a reduction in religious participation, though the capital has to a degree resisted this pattern.

A particular subject she has been particularly vocal on is assisted dying - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her predecessor.

When legislation was passed in the House of Commons, she described it as "impractical and dangerous and creates danger to the most at-risk individuals in our community."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as London's religious leader was to lead a committee trying to steer the Church's decision on whether to sanction gay unions.

She described the determination to finally allow priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023 as "a moment of hope for the religious community."

A former Archbishop, described her new role as requiring a "awareness of current affairs and a understanding of scripture."

The former spiritual leader told journalists "the expectation of having an opinion on everything is significantly demanding."