The Diocese of Canterbury is preparing for the Installation of the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 25 March at 3pm. The service will mark the beginning of her public ministry as Archbishop and the first time in its 1,400‑year history that a woman has held the office.
More than two thousand people from across the country and around the world are expected to attend the Installation, including senior members of the Royal Family, Government, faith leaders, and representatives from charities, schools, and diverse communities.
The service is being held on the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Church marks the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, bearing the news that she will become the mother of Jesus.
Talking about the service, Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin said: “I am delighted to welcome our new Diocesan Bishop to the historic Diocese of Canterbury. That this is happening on the Feast of the Anunciation symbolically reminds us of another woman, Mary. She said ‘Yes’ to the angel Gabriel and was entrusted to carry the Living Word. Like Mary, Dame Sarah has said ‘Yes’ to lead the Diocese of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion. The reality of her inhabiting the historic role of Archbishop reaffirms the trust that God places on us as women to be bearers of his message of Good News.”
Joining Bishop Rose will be a number of representatives from across the Diocese of Canterbury, some of whom will take on key roles during the service. Pupils from the John Wallis Academy in Ashford will greet Archbishop Sarah at the Great West Door at the beginning of the service, and the prayers will see a contribution from a pupil of Archbishop’s School in Canterbury.
Also involved in the liturgy will be the Archdeacon of Maidstone, The Venerable Darren Miller, and Domenica Pecoraro, Kent Refugees Programmes Manager for the Diocese of Canterbury.
Archdeacon Darren said: “As someone whose role is to support the ministry of everyone in the Diocese, it is a particular joy to support Archbishop Sarah in prayer as she begins this chapter of ministry.”
Domenica said: “We rejoice with Archbishop Sarah’s Installation, and give thanks for the wisdom, vision and direction that she will bring in this new ministry, living out the Gospel as we continue to serve the most vulnerable communities across our diocese."
In addition, NHS nurses and carers working in hospitals and hospices in Canterbury have been invited as part of Archbishop Sarah’s guests.
The Installation service of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Sarah Mullally, will be broadcast on BBC1 on Wednesday 25 March from 2:30pm.
For those without a TV license or wanting to stream it in their church, the service will also be available to stream on the Church of England YouTube channel.