Archbishop of Canterbury-designate meets with Compass Rose Society
[Compass Rose Society] As the Annual General Meeting of the Anglican Communion Compass Rose Society concludes, one guest was quite notable: The Rt. Rev. Sarah Mullally, the new archbishop of Canterbury-designate.
Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez, president of the Compass Rose Society and bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, invited Mullally to address the society in its two-day conference. “As the Compass Rose Society grows in membership and influence around the world, we are excited to hear more about Bishop Sarah’s priorities and how we can support her,” Gutiérrez said.
As she rose to address the society, Mullally received a standing ovation from those gathered. On Oct. 2, Mullally was named the 106th archbishop of Canterbury and will become the first woman to hold the office.
Founded in 1994, the Compass Rose Society fosters unity in the Anglican Communion by financially supporting the work of the Anglican Communion Office and the international ministry of the archbishop of Canterbury. Since its inception, the society has raised more than $17 million for this work. Membership includes more than 300 individuals, parishes, dioceses and institutions from nine countries.
Mullally is currently the bishop of London. Prior to her ordination in 2001, she was the government’s chief nursing officer for England – the youngest person ever to be appointed to that role, at age 37 – having previously specialized as a cancer nurse. Mullally has described nursing as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God.”
The most senior bishop in the Church of England, the archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry combines many roles, including serving as the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitan, as well as primus inter pares – or first among equals – of the primates of the global Anglican Communion, which consists of around 85 million people, across 165 countries.
Mullally will take office as the archbishop of Canterbury after her confirmation of election at St. Paul’s Cathedral in January 2026, with a service of installation taking place at Canterbury Cathedral in March.
