| Thank you for helping to share this message with those in our church communities and schools who are not connected to our weekly bulletins or digital channels. |
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A statement from the Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford
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“I am delighted to welcome Bishop Sarah as the first female Archbishop in the history of the Church of England. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her nursing career and a profound pastoral heart which she has demonstrated consistently in caring for those with many different views in the Diocese of London. As the only Diocese in the Church of England where no churches have passed motions to restrict womens’ priestly ministry, we are delighted to welcome her as our Archbishop and look forward to her first visit. Personally, in my role as Clerk of the Closet, I look forward to presenting her to His Majesty to pay homage in February. This is an extraordinarily demanding role and she will need our prayers and support which we gladly offer to her and her family.“
Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford |
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Timeline for the licensing of the next Archbishop of Canterbury
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Following the announcement, the next stage of the appointment process is the Election by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral, which will take place before Christmas.
On 28th January 2026, there will be a Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, at which Bishop Sarah will legally become the Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 25th March 2026, there will be an Installation (sometimes referred to as an ‘enthronement’) at Canterbury Cathedral, which denotes and marks the start of the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry. |
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Official Images of the Archbishop Designate
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| A biography and image are available online. |
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| The national Church of England page explaining the announcement and timelines. |
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First statement from Archbishop Designate
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"As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.
"At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply - to people and to God's gentle prompting - to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.
"I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.
"And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.
"I know this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has." |
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Praying for the Archbishop Designate
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| An image can be downloaded from A Church Near You resource hub. If you do not have access, information can also be downloaded from The Archbishop of Canterbury's website. |
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The Role of the Archbishop of Canterbury
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| The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop in the Church of England and thus, in effect, its spiritual leader. The Archbishop is also the ceremonial leader of the global Anglican Communion, an international network of churches in more than 165 countries. |
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Who were the last 9 Archbishops of Canterbury?
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| BBC news online have provided a helpful overview of the other most recent predecessors of the role. |
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