The Church of England on Friday announced the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the role, entrusting her with leadership of more than 85 million Anglicans worldwide.

At 63, Mullally has held the post of Bishop of London since 2018, making her the Church of England’s third most senior figure after the archbishops of Canterbury and York. Before entering the clergy, she worked as a nurse in London and later became England’s Chief Nursing Officer.

Analysts noted that Mullally’s appointment was enabled by reforms introduced a decade ago under former Archbishop Justin Welby, who stepped down last year amid a child abuse cover-up scandal. The changes permitted the consecration of women as bishops, paving the way for her historic elevation.