DAME Sarah Mullally today became the first woman to be the Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Bishop Jonathan and a host of other Church of England bishops were among those present for the historic moment when she was confirmed to this office during a ‘confirmation of election’ service. She will now be formally installed in Canterbury Cathedral in March – but legally, she is already the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, and will be known as the Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally.

The ‘confirmation of election’ is a legal ceremony, set within a church service. It involved a direction from HM the King, the Archbishop-designate making oaths, and the Archbishop of York and fellow bishops then declaring that she was confirmed in office.

The service also featured the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, music from the Christ’s Hospital School gospel choir, and a reading given by a student from the Urswick School in Hackney, both in English and Portuguese – the majority language spoken in Mozambique, with which the Diocese of London has a link.

Archbishop Sarah’s first act as Archbishop was to take up the Primatial Cross and give the blessing at the end of the service. She then processed onto the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral with fellow bishops.

Between today and her installation in March, Archbishop Sarah will pay homage to HM the King and meet with the leaders of other Christian denominations and other faiths in the UK. She will also co-preside at the Church of England’s General Synod in London in February, where she will deliver the presidential address. By tradition, Archbishop Sarah will begin her public ministry and full programme of public engagements following her installation.

It will at that installation service at Canterbury Cathedral in March that Archbishop Sarah will preach her first sermon as Archbishop of Canterbury.

She said: “It is an extraordinary and humbling privilege to have been called to be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. In this country and around the world, Anglican churches bring healing and hope to their communities. With God’s help, I will seek to guide Christ’s flock with calmness, consistency and compassion.

“These are times of division and uncertainty for our fractured world. I pray that we will offer space to break bread together and discover what we have in common – and I pledge myself to this ministry of hospitality.

“I want us to be a Church that always listens to the voices of those who have been ignored or overlooked, among them victims and survivors of church abuse who have often been let down. I am committed to equipping the Church to be a kind and safe place that cares for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, as we rise to the challenge of God’s call to justice, equity, peace and the care of creation”.

And Bishop Jonathan said: “I believe Archbishop Sarah is very well placed to lead the Church as together, with our ecumenical partners, we seek to serve Jesus Christ and seek God’s Kingdom of justice, compassion and peace. Please join with me in praying for Sarah, for her husband Eamonn and for their family at this time of transition.”