This morning it has been announced that The Right Reverend and Right Honorable Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London and Member of the St Mellitus College Board, has been nominated as the next Archbishop of Canterbury in succession to the The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby.
St Mellitus College was founded in 2007 by the Bishops of London and Chelmsford, in partnership with St Paul’s Theological Centre (Holy Trinity Brompton). Over the past seven years, since her appointment as Bishop of London in 2018, Bishop Sarah has offered the College wise counsel and faithful friendship in her role as a Member of the College, supporting us as we serve the Church. Under her leadership as a Member of the Board of Trustees, the College has navigated challenging seasons in theological education, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, it has continued to flourish as one of the largest Anglican ordination training institutions in the country, training nearly a quarter of all ordinands nationwide, with teaching centres in London, the East Midlands, and the South West. We give thanks for all that Bishop Sarah has contributed to the life of the college.
Dr Sara Schumacher, Interim Dean of St Mellitus College writes: “Congratulations to Bishop Sarah on her nomination as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Sarah has been a wonderful ambassador for St Mellitus College, as well as a supportive and dedicated Member of the Board of Trustees. Although we will be sad to see her move on from her position on the Board and her direct links to the College through the Diocese of London, we look forward to the continuation of our partnership in the gospel under her leadership in the wider Church of England.”
The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, President of St Mellitus College writes: “It has been a privilege to work with Bishop Sarah both within the Diocese of London and on the Board of St Mellitus College. She has been a faithful and wise supporter of the College in her time as Bishop of London and we are hugely grateful to her for the time and commitment she has given to this role. As a College, we will be praying for her as she takes up her new responsibilities in the New Year, wishing her and Eamonn well as they move to Canterbury and Lambeth.”
As Bishop Sarah prepares to become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, she follows in the footsteps of the College’s namesake, St Mellitus, who was sent to England in response to an appeal from St Augustine, the first Bishop of Canterbury, to join the Gregorian Mission. Mellitus became the first Bishop of London in 604 AD and later succeeded Laurence to be the third Archbishop of Canterbury in 619 AD. Mellitus was dedicated to his mission to share the Gospel and led by example, inspiring others with his unwavering faith and resilience and his deep compassion for the people.
On her appointment, Bishop Sarah wrote: “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.”
To read more about the announcement visit the Church of England’s website.
As a national college community, we commit to upholding Bishop Sarah and Eamonn in prayer in this season of transition and as she prepares to take up her new post. Please join us as we pray for them.
A Prayer for Bishop Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury designate (from the Church of England)
Almighty and everlasting God, the only worker of great marvels, send down upon your servant Sarah, called to be Archbishop of Canterbury and all who are committed to her care, the spirit of your saving grace, and that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ.
Amen.