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Dame Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - creating a milestone as the initial female to be chosen for this prestigious role.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the 63-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was named as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of clergy in the Anglican Church.

This marks the initial occasion in nearly 500 years of history that the Anglican Communion has chosen a female to assume its leadership.

Groundbreaking Selection

The Church has been lacking an individual in the leading position for approximately twelve months after Justin Welby stepped down over a safeguarding scandal.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a prolific child abuser linked to the Church. The report found that he "could and should" have notified authorities about John Smyth's abuse of male youths to police in 2013.

The Archbishop of York assumed most of the former Archbishop's responsibilities in an interim move, and was among those casting ballots of the committee tasked with selecting his replacement.

Political Procedure

Following established custom, the procedure of selecting a spiritual leader involves a name being presented to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the monarch.

Sir Keir has applauded the selection of Dame Sarah, stating: "This position will play a key role in our national life. I offer my best wishes and anticipate working together."

While, technically, the monarch is head of the Church of England, the person holding the position of Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking cleric and is the religious guide of the religious institution and the global Anglican community.

Monarchical and International Reaction

The monarch has praised the new Archbishop on her appointment, "which is of such importance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", Buckingham Palace stated.

The international conservative Anglican group, which advocates for traditional positions, has criticised the appointment, saying that although certain groups support the decision, "most members of the global church still maintains that the Bible mandates a male-only episcopacy."

Transition Period

She does not legally take on her new role until a formal approval process in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes subsequently, after they have pledged allegiance to the monarch.

In a declaration on Friday after her appointment was confirmed, she stated: "I know this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a feeling of calm and faith in divine guidance to support me as He always has."

Addressing media at Canterbury Cathedral, she said that "during a period that seeks absolute answers and group identity, the Anglican tradition offers something quieter but more resilient."

Responding to Attack

Addressing the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in the northern city, she stated "we observe hatred that rises up through divisions across our society."

She added: "We then as a Church have a responsibility to be a people who support the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in all its forms. Prejudice and discrimination of all types cannot be allowed to tear us apart."

Professional History

Married with two children, she devoted more than three decades in the National Health Service, achieving the position of the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for England in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the Church at the period, it was just a few years later that she decided to become a clergy member and was promptly assigned helping make reforms in the way the organization dealt with misconduct.

In 2012 she became canon treasurer at the historic church before becoming Bishop of Crediton in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was regarded as someone who applied her background as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Guiding Principles

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had different professional paths, first in the health service and currently in the religious institution.

"I like to consider that I have consistently maintained one vocation: to pursue Christian faith, to understand his teachings and to make him known, continually striving to live with compassion in the assistance to people, whether as a healthcare professional, a priest, or a church official."

Future Challenges

Perhaps the pressing issue in her in-tray is still to develop improved approaches towards dealing with misconduct and approaching with greater empathy those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a decline in religious participation, though London has to some extent resisted this pattern.

One of the areas she has been most outspoken about is end-of-life choices - she is a strong critic, as was her predecessor.

When the law was passed in the House of Commons, she described it as "unworkable and unsafe and poses a risk to the most at-risk individuals in our society."

Progressive Stances

Among her responsibilities as London's religious leader was to chair a committee trying to steer the Church's decision on whether to sanction gay unions.

She described the determination to ultimately permit priests to sanction gay relationships in 2023 as "an optimistic development for the Church."

Rowan Williams, summarised her position as necessitating a "newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other."

Dr Williams told journalists "the expectation of having an position on all matters is quite heavy."