Thinking Anglicans

More reactions to new Archbishop of Canterbury

Daniel French The Spectator How Sarah Mullally can fix the Church of England

Paul Sutton The Critic The conservative case for Sarah Mullally

Luke Coppen The Pillar Will the new Archbishop of Canterbury impact Anglican-Catholic ties?

The Church of Scotland Church Moderator and Principal Clerk send congratulations to the next Archbishop of Canterbury

The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe congratulates new Archbishop of Canterbury

Donna Birrell Premier Christian News Abuse survivors ‘disappointed’ at Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church What does the nomination of Bishop Mullally to Canterbury say about the Church of England?

Ian Paul Psephizo What challenges face Sarah Mullally as the new archbishop?

Theo Hobson Hail Sarah

Martine Oborne The Guardian The next archbishop of Canterbury has no time to waste in making change – this is what she will be up against

The Guardian Editorial The Guardian view on the first female archbishop of Canterbury: a choice that offers renewal and hope

Tim Wyatt New Statesman The first female Archbishop of Canterbury is a lifelong trailblazer

Ruth Peacock Religion Media Centre Sarah Mullaly smashed through ‘stained glass ceiling’ to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury

66 Comments

Initial Reactions to new Archbishop of Canterbury

Several items have been added during the day.

Press reports

Hattie Williams Church Times Bishop Mullally’s nomination to Canterbury welcomed by church and charity leaders
Mixed response from overseas Anglicans to Canterbury announcement
Bishop Mullally’s nomination to Canterbury welcomed by church and charity leaders

Francis Martin Church Times In the midst of chaos, acts of kindness and love are what matters, says Archbishop-designate of Canterbury

Sarah Meyrick Church Times My deep faith and working experience will help me as Archbishop, Bishop Mullally says

Madeleine Davies Church Times Profile: Who is Sarah Mullally, the next Archbishop of Canterbury?

Caroline Davies The Guardian Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally: the former nurse who will be archbishop of Canterbury

Sky News Woman named as new Archbishop of Canterbury in historic first
Who is Sarah Mullally, the first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury?

Tim Wyatt Religion Media Centre Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury

Religion Media Centre RMC Briefing: Courage and pastoral care – gifts of Sarah Mullaly, first female Archbishop of Canterbury

ITV News Archbishop of Canterbury: Dame Sarah Mullally becomes first woman to take on role

Muvija M Reuters UK names Mullally as first female Archbishop to lead Church of England
Anglican grouping GAFCON objects to female Archbishop of Canterbury

Franklin Nelson Financial Times Sarah Mullally named first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Archie Mitchell Independent Sarah Mullally becomes first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury

Gabriella Swerling The Telegraph Sarah Mullally appointed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Anglican Communion News Service The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE to become 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion shares a message of welcome to the next Archbishop of Canterbury

Christian Today Historic day for Church of England as Sarah Mullally appointed first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury
Evangelicals pray Sarah Mullally will restore Church of England to historic position on marriage and sexuality as next Archbishop of Canterbury

Craig Buchan and Michael Keohan BBC News Kent welcomes its first woman Archbishop

Aleem Maqbool and Paul Gribben BBC News Sarah Mullally named as new Archbishop of Canterbury

Lebo Diseko BBC News Conservative church group condemns choice of female Archbishop of Canterbury

Danica Kirka and Brian Melley Religion News Service Sarah Mullally named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Inside Croydon Former Sutton vicar to become 106th Archbishop of Canterbury

English diocesan responses

Bath & Wells, Blackburn, Bristol, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Coventry, Derby, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Europe, Gloucester, Guildford, Hereford, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Rochester, Salisbury, Southwell & Nottingham, St Albans, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Truro, Worcester, York

Other reactions

Jill Duff Premier Christianity Dame Sarah Mullally is the new Archbishop of Canterbury. I’m praying she’ll lead with faith, hope and love

Helen King sharedconversations White smoke day: the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and WalesCatholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Cardinal welcomes Archbishop-designate Sarah Mullally as new Archbishop of Canterbury

Vatican News Cardinal Koch congratulates Archbishop-designate of Canterbury Sarah Mullally

Forward in Faith The next Archbishop of Canterbury

The Society under the patronage of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda The next Archbishop of Canterbury

Church of England Evangelical Council CEEC responds to the announcement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury

GAFCON Canterbury Appointment Abandons Anglicans

Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches GSFA Statement on the Appointment of the Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, as the Archbishop of Canterbury

Melanie McDonagh The Spectator The issues that will haunt the new Archbishop of Canterbury

94 Comments

Dean of Coventry to retire

The Very Reverend John Witcombe, the Dean of Coventry, has announced that he is to retire on 31 May 2026.

6 Comments

Opinion – 1 October 2025

Ian Paul in conversation with Andrew Atherstone Psephizo History, law, and individual cups at Communion

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love What if we just weren’t made for these things?

Durham University Church of England must do more to recognise dangers of spiritual authority

22 Comments

Opinion – 24 September 2025

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Ken Leech Doing Theology in Altab Ali Park

Theo Hobson American theocracy?

Ian Paul Psephizo The demographic crisis in Church of England ministry

76 Comments

Role of the Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Beverley

The Church of England has issued a press release on the role of the Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Beverley; it is copied below.

Independent Reviewer examines roles of Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Beverley

23/09/2025

The Independent Reviewer, Canon Maggie Swinson, is recommending extra support for two bishops who provide extended episcopal oversight to parishes with a conservative stance on the ordination of women.

In a report published today, Canon Swinson explores the workload and geographical spread of the ministries of the Bishop of Beverley, Stephen Race, and the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rob Munro.

Bishop Stephen – one of the Church of England’s Provincial Episcopal Visitors (PEVs) – is responsible for providing extended episcopal oversight to traditional catholic parishes across the North of England.

The report notes that the number of parishes under his remit increased following the retirement of the former Bishop of Wakefield, who had previously provided oversight to a number of traditional catholic churches in Yorkshire.

Bishop Rob serves complementarian evangelical congregations across the whole of England singlehandedly. The report notes that he has not only seen an increase over time in the number of parishes formally under his care, but that he also provides informal support to some others.

Canon Swinson notes that, as well as having more parishes under their care than many other bishops, the two bishops also travel much greater distances and the report explores the particular pastoral challenges of such a dispersed ministry.

She also notes that, unlike the PEVs who provide cover for each other in some cases, Bishop Rob currently has no one who can deputise for him.

Canon Swinson concludes that both bishops need extra support. She recommends that, as an interim measure, they could receive support with work which does not need to be carried out by a bishop, while longer term solutions are found.


  • The role of the Independent Reviewer was established under the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests, drawn up in 2014 ahead of legislation paving the way for the consecration of women as bishops.
  • The declaration, and the accompanying Five Guiding Principles, set out the arrangements for parishes that seek the priestly or episcopal ministry of men on grounds of theological conviction.
  • The Independent Reviewer operates as ombudsman-style role, ruling on concerns and disputes over the operation of the declaration.
211 Comments

Opinion – 20 September 2025

Kelvin Holdsworth What is in Kelvin’s Head? We are not stewards

Ian Paul Psephizo Money, sex, and power: Will the next archbishop save the Church of England?

Francis Martin Church Times What are the most pressing issues facing the next Archbishop of Canterbury?

Madeleine Davies Church Times Church of England is in need of a structural survey

67 Comments

Opinion – 17 September 2025

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Eighty years on – living creatively and optimistically in decadent times

Anon Surviving Church “As though they were gods…..”

31 Comments

LLF Autumn Update

The Church of England has published LLF Autumn Update: Preparing for Key Decisions. It starts

This Autumn, the House of Bishops will meet to consider further proposals on LLF, with a view to reporting their progress back to the meeting of the General Synod in February 2026. Extensive theological work by the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) will be available to inform the bishops in their decision making. This includes advice on the nature of doctrine and how it develops, the text and context of the Prayers of Love and Faith, and the exemplarity of clergy life. In order to assist the bishops in their discernment, feedback received from the informal diocesan consultations will also be considered.

and continues with

  • Key Dates
  • What is Happening now?
  • What is Being Prepared?
  • FAQ.
12 Comments

Opinion – 13 September 2025

Rosalind Rutherford Women and the Church Bread and Stones

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Tricksters versus magicians The state of the House of Bishops and worship in local churches

Kelvin Holdsworth What is in Kelvin’s Head? Listening to the Quiet Revival

94 Comments

Opinion – 6 September 2025

Tim Wyatt The Critical Friend Make or break
“Is the upcoming appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury the last chance saloon for the C of E to save itself?”

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Learning Lessons from the Rise and Fall of the Nine O’Clock Service

Helen King sharedconversations Is there a quorum in the House of Bishops?

75 Comments

Opinion – 3 September 2025

David Torrance House of Commons Library What is the Ecclesiastical Committee?

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love The Evolution or Regression of the Church of England

Scarlet Cassock “All the money’s gone — must be the choir’s fault”
[This is part 2; part 1 was published in July.]

Bishop of Oxford An Open Letter to Nigel Farage

38 Comments

House of Bishops minutes – 20-22 May 2025

The minutes of the May 2025 meeting of the Church of England’s House of Bishops are now available.

Although they are dated 18 June at the end, the internal file attributes have today’s date (1 Sept 2025).

There was a meeting in July, with an agenda and a press release, but, as yet, no minutes. The next meeting of the House is scheduled for 6-8 October.

Earlier minutes are online here.

16 Comments

Opinion – 30 August 2025

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Are Charismatic Evangelical Anglican churches becoming more welcoming and open to LGBTQIA+ people?

Jonathan Surviving Church Three Years On after a NDA: Lessons Learnt

Archdruid Eileen The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley Re-envisioning the Midsomer Benefice

78 Comments

Cathedral Statistics 2024

The Church of England has released its Cathedral Statistics 2024. There is an accompanying press release which is copied below. Statistics for earlier years may be found here.

Cathedral statistics show continued growth in 2024
28/08/2025

The Church of England’s latest cathedral statistics show continued growth in 2024, with weekly attendance rising to 31,900, an increase of eleven per cent compared to 2023. The rise was driven particularly by midweek services, which saw a 15 per cent increase in adult attendance and a 16 per cent increase in child attendance, although still lower than the pre-pandemic figure. (more…)

5 Comments

Opinion – 27 August 2025

Ian Gomersall A Retired Rector’s Reflections Church of England’s major data breach

The Church Mouse The Quiet Revival under the microscope

Chine McDonald Theos Is this the end of Theology in Higher Education?

20 Comments

Opinion – 23 August 2025

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church False Allegations, Rumours and Assumptions

20 Comments

Opinion – 20 August 2025

Augustine Tanner-Ihm ViaMedia.News Bleeding While Leading: A Theological and Leadership Reflection

Martin Sewell Surviving Church Parting Shots

60 Comments

General Synod electronic voting results – July 2025 – part 2

Most of the electronic voting lists from last month’s meeting of General Synod were published online some weeks ago, and I linked to them here. These contain the names of voting members and how they voted.

The lists for two procedural motions were omitted, but they are now available. Both were motions ‘That the Synod do pass to the Next Business’ and both were carried. The effect of such a motion is that the substantive motion lapses, and the same (or a similar) question cannot be reconsidered in the remaining lifetime of the Synod without the permission of the Business Committee and the general consent of the Synod.

The first was during the debate on item 13 as amended by item 33 (see Order Paper III for Saturday afternoon).

That this Synod noting the wider discussions about the culture and governance of the House of Bishops
a) welcome the decision to undertake an independently led review as proposed in GS Misc 1412 and the importance in the proposed Terms of Reference of the section on Culture and Ways of Working and
b) request that the Report of the Review be published in full and that the cost of the Review be met by the Archbishops’ Council.”.

The second was at the end of Sunday’s debate on the Archbishops’ Council Annual Report. This prevented a debate on Martin Sewell’s following motion on the working of the Audit Committee (see item 35 on Order Paper V).

6 Comments

Opinion – 16 August 2025

Martin Sewell Surviving Church Resigning from General Synod

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love The Church of England’s absurd position on sex and marriage

Martyn Percy Meander Barnaclization in the Church of England

Helen King ViaMedia.News In the Beginning: Sex, AIDS, Judgment and the Church of England, 1986-1991

58 Comments