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Dame Sarah Mullally has been selected as the incoming spiritual leader of the Church of England - making history as the initial female to be chosen for this important office.

A former NHS chief nurse, the sixty-three-year-old became a priest in 2006 and was appointed as the first female Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of clergy in the Church of England.

This signifies the initial occasion in nearly 500 years of tradition that the Church has nominated a female to lead it.

Historic Appointment

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

He departed following a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the religious institution. The report found that he "was able and obligated" have reported John Smyth's abuse of male youths to law enforcement in 2013.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell assumed most of Mr Welby's duties in an interim move, and was one of the voting members of the body tasked with selecting his replacement.

Official Process

In line with tradition, the procedure of selecting a spiritual leader involves a name being given to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the sovereign.

The Prime Minister has applauded Dame Sarah's appointment, commenting: "This position will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and anticipate collaborating."

Although formally, the monarch is head of the Anglican Church, the person occupying the role of spiritual leader is the highest-ranking cleric and is the religious guide of the Church and the global Anglican community.

Monarchical and Global Reaction

The monarch has congratulated Dame Sarah on her new role, "a position of great significance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", Buckingham Palace announced.

The international conservative Anglican group, which advocates for traditional positions, has criticised the selection, saying that although certain groups support the decision, "the majority of the Anglican Communion still maintains that the scriptures requires a all-male bishopric."

Transition Period

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

In a declaration on the announcement day after her new role was confirmed, she said: "I know this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as has consistently occurred."

Addressing media at the historic church, she noted that "during a period that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, Anglicanism provides a more subtle approach but more resilient."

Addressing Violence

Addressing the "horrific violence" of the previous day's incident on a Jewish house of worship in Manchester, she stated "we are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our society."

She added: "The religious community have a duty to be a group who stand with the Jewish people against antisemitism in all its forms. Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to divide our society."

Professional History

A mother of two, she spent over 35 years in the National Health Service, becoming the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for England in 1999.

While serving voluntarily in the Church at the time, it was just a few years later that she chose to enter a priest and was quickly tasked with helping implement changes in the way the institution dealt with misconduct.

In 2012 she became canon treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral before assuming the role of diocesan leader in the regional church administration in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was regarded as someone who used her experience as an NHS administrator to help modernise the church district.

Guiding Principles

"People frequently inquire what it has been like to have had two careers, initially in the NHS and now in the Church.

"I like to consider that I have always had a single calling: to pursue Christian faith, to understand his teachings and to share his message, continually striving to live with compassion in the service of others, whether as a healthcare professional, a priest, or a bishop."

Upcoming Responsibilities

Possibly the pressing issue 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 the capital has to some extent resisted this pattern.

A particular subject she has been most outspoken about is assisted dying - she is a strong critic, as was her predecessor.

When legislation was approved in the Commons, she characterized it as "unworkable and unsafe and creates danger to the most at-risk individuals in our society."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as London's religious leader was to lead a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She described the decision to finally allow clergy to bless same-sex couples in 2023 as "an optimistic development for the Church."

A former Archbishop, described her position as requiring a "newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other."

Dr Williams told journalists "the pressure of having an position on all matters is significantly demanding."