Archbishop says six-day pilgrimage has been a joy

The first female Archbishop of Canterbury said she was "very relieved" to complete her six-day walking pilgrimage ahead of her formal enthronement.

Dame Sarah Mullally arrived in Canterbury, Kent, from London on Sunday and was joined by about 100 people as she marched through the city towards the cathedral.

The newly-appointed top minister of the Church of England embarked on the walk ahead of her official installation on Wednesday.

Dame Sarah said: "It's been a real joy; it's also a joy to know that we're done."

Her enthronement will be attended by more than 2,000 people, including members of the royal family and faith representatives from around the world.

Dame Sarah arrived in Canterbury shortly after 14:30 GMT on Sunday, where she was met by the city's mayor, the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral and the Bishop of Dover.

Crowds cheered and bells rang out, before the archbishop gave a short speech

"I would like to thank you all for your support, whichever part you played in this walk, this pilgrimage," she said.

"To have accompanied me on the way, whether physically or in prayer, I am very grateful for that, and I look forward very much to you joining with me either in person or online or in prayer on Wednesday."

The ceremony is scheduled to go ahead as normal despite the meningitis outbreak in Kent, but officials have said that they are keeping in contact with health authorities to monitor the situation.

In a statement earlier this week, Dame Sarah said her thoughts and prayers were with the families of two young people who have died in the outbreak.

Wednesday's ceremony is the symbolic start of Dame Sarah's ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury, following a lengthy process in which she was first named in the role last October and confirmed in her election in January at a St Paul's Cathedral ceremony.

She will deliver her first sermon in the role at Canterbury Cathedral to a congregation including the Prince and Princess of Wales, representing the King, at the historic ceremony.

The Pope will not attend but will send a representative from the Holy See, while the new Archbishop of Westminster, who is the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, will give a reading from the Old Testament.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch are also expected to be present, with other faith leaders, charities, healthcare workers and schoolchildren.

Dame Sarah, who was chief nursing officer in England before she was ordained, has also invited NHS nurses and carers working in hospitals and hospices in Canterbury to attend the ceremony.

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