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Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the incoming spiritual leader of the Church of England - creating a milestone as the initial female to be chosen for this significant position.

A former NHS chief nurse, the 63-year-old became a priest in 2006 and was named as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of clergy in the Anglican Church.

This signifies the initial occasion in nearly 500 years of history that the Church has selected a female to assume its leadership.

Groundbreaking Appointment

The Anglican Church has been lacking an individual in the leading position for approximately twelve months after the previous Archbishop stepped down over a protection controversy.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a prolific child abuser linked to the Church. The investigation found that he "was able and obligated" have notified authorities about John Smyth's abuse of boys and young men to law enforcement in 2013.

The Archbishop of York took on most of Mr Welby's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was among those casting ballots of the body tasked with choosing his replacement.

Political Procedure

Following established custom, the process of selecting a new archbishop involves a name being presented to the Prime Minister and then passed to the monarch.

The Prime Minister has welcomed the selection of Dame Sarah, commenting: "The Archbishop of Canterbury will serve an important function in our country's affairs. I wish her every success and look forward to collaborating."

While, technically, the monarch is head of the Church of England, the individual occupying the position of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the religious institution and the global Anglican community.

Royal and International Response

King Charles III has praised the new Archbishop on her new role, "a position of great significance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", the royal household stated.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which represents conservative views, has criticised the appointment, saying that although some will welcome it, "the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the scriptures requires a all-male bishopric."

Handover Process

She will not formally assume her position until a formal approval process in January, and an enthronement service comes subsequently, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a statement on the announcement day after her new role was finalized, she said: "I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a feeling of calm and trust in God to carry me as has consistently occurred."

Speaking from the historic church, she said that "during a period that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, Anglicanism provides a more subtle approach but more resilient."

Addressing Violence

Talking about the "terrible attack" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in Manchester, she said "we are witnessing hatred that emerges through divisions across our communities."

She added: "We then as a Church have a duty to be a people who stand with the Jewish people against antisemitism in all its forms. Prejudice and discrimination of any kind cannot be permitted to divide our society."

Professional History

Married with two children, she spent over 35 years in the National Health Service, becoming the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the Church at the period, it was just a short time after that she chose to enter a clergy member and was quickly tasked with helping make reforms in the way the organization addressed misconduct.

In that year she became financial administrator at Salisbury Cathedral before assuming the role of diocesan leader in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was seen as someone who used her experience as an NHS administrator to help update the diocese.

Personal Philosophy

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and currently in the religious institution.

"I prefer to think that I have always had one vocation: to follow Jesus Christ, to understand his teachings and to share his message, continually striving to live with compassion in the assistance to people, whether as a nurse, a priest, or a church official."

Upcoming Responsibilities

Perhaps the most urgent thing in her agenda is still to develop improved approaches towards dealing with misconduct and treating with more compassion those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a reduction in religious participation, though London has to a degree bucked that trend.

A particular subject she has been particularly vocal on is end-of-life choices - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her predecessor.

When legislation was passed in the Commons, she described it as "impractical and dangerous and poses a risk to the most at-risk individuals in our society."

Modern Positions

Among her responsibilities as London's religious leader was to lead a body trying to steer the religious institution's determination on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She described the decision to ultimately permit clergy to sanction gay relationships in last year as "a moment of hope for the Church."

A former Archbishop, described her new role as requiring a "awareness of current affairs and a understanding of scripture."

The former spiritual leader explained to media outlets "the expectation of having an opinion on everything is quite heavy."