First female archbishop nears end of pilgrimage

The Church of England's first woman appointed to its top ministry role has spoken of the "immense privilege" she feels ahead of her official enthronement.

Dame Sarah Mullally is expected to arrive in Canterbury, Kent, on Sunday, at the end of a six-day walking pilgrimage from London.

She is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the high office in its 1,400-year history.

Her official installation will be attended by more than 2,000 people, including British royals and faith representatives from around the world, when it takes place at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday.

The ceremony is scheduled to go ahead without any specific safety mitigations being required amid the meningitis outbreak in the county but officials have said they are keeping in contact with health authorities to monitor the situation.

Dame Sarah, in a statement issued on her walk, said her thoughts and prayers were with the families of two young people who have died in the outbreak, saying her "heart goes out to them in their devastating loss".

Wednesday's ceremony is the symbolic start to Dame Sarah's ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury, following a lengthy process which saw her 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 featuring the Prince and Princess of Wales, representing the King at the historic ceremony.

In nods to the diversity of the Anglican Communion, various languages will feature in the service, including singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish and a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch are also expected to attend, alongside 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.

She said: "As I prepare to begin my ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury, I am grateful for the prayers and support I have received from people here and around the world.

"To be welcomed into the city and diocese of Canterbury is an immense privilege and I am grateful to be sharing in this moment with people of all ages and backgrounds from across the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, our nation and the world.

"Our world today needs the love, healing and hope that we find in Jesus Christ."

Additional reporting from PA Media.

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