(MENAFN- Live Mint) Sarah Mullally was appointed the new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, becoming the first woman to hold the role in its 1,400-year history. Mullally's appointment also means that this is the first time that a woman is the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide.

Aged 63-years-old, dame Sarah Mullally has served as the Bishop of London since 2018, making her the Church of England's third most senior bishop after the archbishops of Canterbury and York.

Prior to her ordination, she worked as a nurse in London hospitals and later became England's Chief Nursing Officer, mentioned a report by CNN.

Sarah Mullally condemns Manchester incident

On Friday, Mullally used her first public statement to condemn the "horrific violence" of Thursday's deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester, saying“hatred and racism cannot tear us apart,” reported BBC.

Not only does Sarah Mullally's appointment as the Archbishop of Canterbury mark a historic moment where a female has taken up that role, but has also fills the vacuum in Canterbury.

The Church has been without someone in the top job for almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal.

What was the scandal

Justin Welby, the former archbishop, resigned last year for failing to report to John Smyth, who was accused of physically and sexually abusing dozens of boys, including those he met at Christian camps, in the 1970s and 1980s, as per multiple reports.

Mullally's elevation to archbishop was only possible due to reforms under Welby, who allowed women to be consecrated as bishops a decade ago, mentioned a report by CNN.

How is the Archbishop of Canterbury chosen?

Candidates for the Archbishop of Canterbury are chosen by the Crown Nominations Commission – a panel which is chaired by Jonathan Evans, the former head of MI5, Britain's domestic security service.

The 17-member body votes to choose its preferred candidate, whose name is then sent to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for approval.

It is, however, King Charles, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, who formally appoints the archbishop.

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