Dame Sarah Mullally confirmed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as the first woman to hold the office of Archbishop of Canterbury. The legal ceremony, with ancient tradition requiring oaths and signatures, took place at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday, within the setting of a service, with prayers and choral music. There were many contributions from women lawyers and clergy, and from the Anglican church across the globe. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said the world may be interested in the fact she is the first woman in the job, but he advised it was her character that was most important, saying she should “continue to be the person who exercises the gifts, wisdom, and experience that your life has given you”. The Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson Wilkins, who aids the Archbishop by taking a leading role in the Diocese of Canterbury, said it was a “habemus mamam moment” – meaning “we have a mother”.
— Protester disrupts the ceremony
There was one off script intervention when a lone protester, a retired vicar Fr Paul Williamson, shouted objections to her election, but he was promptly removed. His words were inaudible to the media at the ceremony, but afterwards he was interviewed on Channel 4 News and on Dan Wootton’s “Outspoken” programme, where he made clear that his comments were about Dame Sarah’s handling of a safeguarding case in London involving Fr Alan Griffin, who took his own life after false allegations were made. In the interviews, Fr Williamson criticised the process over setting a deadline for objections to the Archbishop’s appointment. He said he had “no intention of causing an ugly scene in the House of God”, but he had to stand up for justice and safeguarding. He described being “hurried out of the cathedral” and complained about his handling, adding that when the media approached asking for an interview, he was told to leave the premises.
— ‘Misogyny needs to be brought out into the open’
In a recorded interview before the ceremony, with the BBC’s religion editor Aleem Maqbool, she said it was right that there is greater scrutiny about her record on safeguarding, and she reiterated her commitment to it. She had experienced misogyny in her secular role as a nurse, and then also in the church, and she had learned that issues needed to be brought out into the open. She would not be drawn on what will happen about same sex blessings, an issue which has deeply divided the church, but said her role is to listen and “to go far, together”. After the ceremony, Dame Sarah was surrounded by fellow bishops amid loud applause. She has one more formal step to take before coming fully into her role. She must be installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury, in a service at Canterbury Cathedral on 25 March.
— The ceremony attracted widespread coverage including: Church Times report here; The Times here; Telegraph here; Guardian report and opinion piece here, Independent here, BBC here, Channel 4 news here, ITV here and Sky News here. And our own report by Tim Wyatt on the challenges Dame Sarah will face as she takes up the role
Methodists in Minneapolis standing against “evil in our midst”
Minneapolis remains tense despite President Trump promising his administration is “going to de-escalate a little bit”. On the same day, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked while speaking at a public meeting, with a liquid which turned out to be apple cider vinegar. Families are afraid to leave their homes and churches are organising emergency food, advice and support for a city in shock. Amidst this, a Methodist church on the front line of recent raids, is setting up a “healing space”, where the community will be offered “a gentle evening of care, connection, and healing”. Park Lane church is near Powderhorn Park, and there have been shots fired on the streets nearby. Ministers and lay leaders have written to their community saying the past few weeks have been filled with sounds of crying, whistles and chanting. Staff have been pepper bombed while standing and praying for their neighbours as a raid took place. They say: “This is a moment to name that we stand against the evil we are witnessing in our midst. What is happening in our neighborhood is violent, traumatizing, and wrong”, and they are resolute in standing with the “immigrant, refugee, migrant, and Native neighbors”, saying this is following the way of Jesus. Now they are offering, for no charge, trauma-informed therapists, relaxation massage, healing yoga and prayer in the sanctuary and a private space for meditation.
Lord Falconer says ‘very difficult’ for assisted dying bill to become law this year
It is now “very, very difficult” for the assisted dying bill to become law this year, according to Lord Falconer, one of its leading supporters. He told BBC News the private member’s bill has “absolutely no hope” of passing unless the House of Lords changes its approach. Lord Falconer has raised the possibility of using the Parliament Act to override peers if the bill is blocked after the King’s Speech in May — a move that would be highly controversial. Opponents argue the bill is unsafe and risks pressuring vulnerable people. Government sources privately accept the bill may fail and suggest a compromise, possibly via a Royal Commission to examine questions that have arisen during the debate. Lord Falconer insists elected MPs, not unelected peers, should have the final say. Story here
Kim Keon Hee jailed for corruption over gifts from Unification Church
The Associated Press reports that Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption. She was sentenced for receiving luxury gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church in return for promises of political favours. Though her lawyers, she said that she would “humbly accept” the court’s view and “apologises again to everyone for causing concerns”. Her husband faces charges of rebellion, after martial law was declared in December 2024, which led to his impeachment and eventually his removal from office. He is currently serving five years for charges including defying authorities’ attempts to detain him. But the rebellion charges could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Ofsted finds no evidence of bias after school postpones Jewish MP’s visit
Ofsted has ruled that there was no evidence to support claims of bias at a Bristol school after it postponed a visit by a Jewish MP. The watchdog inspected Bristol Brunel Academy following reports that pro-Palestinian activists had blocked a visit by Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East. The school’s trust, the Cabot Learning Federation, said the visit was delayed over safeguarding concerns linked to a planned protest outside the school gates on the same day and had already been rescheduled. Ofsted found the school showed a “profound commitment” to inclusion, tolerance and political impartiality, with staff describing a harmonious and religiously tolerant environment. Inspectors found political impartiality was ensured in the school’s curriculum and teaching and recommended it keep its approach to political neutrality under review, particularly around visitors and events. BBC report here
Disciplinary cases closed against two clergy following Makin review
Disciplinary cases against two CofE clergymen following the Makin review, into the church’s handling of serial abuser John Smyth, have been closed down. In a statement, the Church of England explained that the National Safeguarding Team announced in February 2025 that it would commence disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure against ten named clergy, with a further name announced in October. Following a formal investigation into the Rev Roger Coombes, who was handed a report on John Smyth in 1982 but did not read it, the President of Tribunals (senior legal figure who oversees church disciplinary tribunals) has decided there is no case to answer and the matter is closed. And in the case of the Rev Iain Broomfield, former chair of the Titus Trust, permission to bring an “out of time” case of misconduct has not been granted, so that too is closed. Church Times story here
