Sarah Mullally has been formally installed as the archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England and serve as symbolic head of the global Anglican Communion.

The ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral was attended by 2,000 guests, including Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and featured prayers, readings in multiple languages, and symbolic items reflecting her NHS background and Anglican-Catholic ties.

Mullally called for peace in conflict zones and acknowledged past safeguarding failures within the church, emphasizing truth, justice, and compassion.

Her appointment has faced criticism from conservative Anglican provinces, though some plans to appoint a rival leader were recently abandoned in favor of a new council, Al-Jazeera has reported.

As archbishop, Mullally’s role is largely symbolic and aims to unify a diverse global church amid ongoing debates over women’s leadership and LGBTQ issues.