Sara Malalli is the first female archbishop. Photo by Victoria Jones / Shutterstock.
A significant event has occurred in the history of the Church of England: Sara Malalli has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold this position. The official inauguration took place in 2026.
According to information from Reuters, Malalli was legally confirmed on January 28, 2026, becoming the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury since the 6th century and the first woman to hold this post.
The ceremony of enthronement, which symbolized her entry into ministry, took place on March 25 at Canterbury Cathedral. This event marked the beginning of her public ministry at the head of the Church of England and the entire global Anglican community.
As reported by The Guardian, this is the first time in nearly 1500 years that a woman has been entrusted with this high office.
In her first sermon, Malalli emphasized her readiness for ministry by stating, "Here I am."
This appointment is a significant milestone for the Anglican Church, as women were only ordained as priests in 1994 and as bishops since 2014.
