Hymns will be sung in Urdu and Bemba.
The ceremony of the enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, will take place at Canterbury Cathedral. She has become the first woman in history to hold this position, as reported by the BBC. The Prince and Princess of Wales will be present at the ceremony, representing King Charles. Among the approximately 2000 invited guests are nurses and caregivers from Canterbury. Their participation will acknowledge Dame Sarah's years of work in healthcare.
The ceremony marks the beginning of her public ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury. Notably, all 105 of her predecessors, starting from Saint Augustine in 597, have been men. Women were only allowed to become priests in the Anglican Church in 1994.
In an interview with the BBC, Dame Sarah emphasized that she is aware of the historical significance of her appointment, but she also remembers the many women who supported her along the way. According to her, she received support from men as well, but the current ceremony will serve as a kind of recognition of women's roles. She also noted that her example may inspire others to follow their dreams and achieve their own goals.
Dame Sarah began her career in 1980 as a nurse, and by 1999 she became the youngest senior nurse in England's history. After being ordained as a priest in 2002, she continued to combine her ministry with medical work, and in 2018 she became the first female bishop of London.
On the eve of her enthronement, she undertook a six-day pilgrimage, walking nearly 145 kilometers from St. Paul's Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral. The theme of pilgrimage will also be part of the ceremony itself: the rituals will take place in different parts of the cathedral – from west to east.
The service will begin with a symbolic moment: Dame Sarah will knock three times on the western doors of the cathedral with her pastoral staff, after which she will be greeted by schoolchildren. In the nave, she will take an oath on the Bible of St. John – a new Bible will be used for the first time since 1945, which is seen as a sign of renewal of traditions. Then, in the choir, she will be officially confirmed as the Bishop of the Canterbury Diocese at the cathedral's throne, after which she will take the chair of St. Augustine and be proclaimed the Primate of all England. Despite the strictness of traditions, Dame Sarah participated in the selection of some hymns for the service.
In addition to representatives of the clergy and high-ranking guests, staff from the National Health Service from Canterbury will participate in the ceremony. The diversity of the global Anglican community will also be highlighted: hymns will be sung in Urdu, the Gospel will be read in Spanish, and prayers will be offered in Bemba – a language spoken in Zambia.
