The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has criticised the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, calling the decision “devastating” and out of touch with the challenges facing the global Anglican community.
In a statement issued by its Primate, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the church said the move was “insensitive” to the convictions of many Anglicans who reject female leadership in the episcopate. It also condemned Mullally’s support for same-sex marriage, citing her 2023 remarks welcoming the Church of England’s decision to bless same-sex unions.
The statement questioned how Mullally could heal deep divisions caused by decades of disagreement over same-sex marriage, warning that her election confirmed a growing global rejection of the Church of England’s leadership.
Reaffirming its stance as part of the GAFCON movement, the Church of Nigeria pledged to uphold biblical authority, traditional doctrine, and Christian morality despite what it described as a “revisionist agenda.” It also expressed solidarity with Church of England members who continue to oppose same-sex marriage.
Mullally, 63, was appointed on 3 October 2025 as the Church of England’s first female Archbishop of Canterbury, succeeding Justin Welby. Her nomination was approved by King Charles III and marks a historic milestone for the mother church of Anglicanism, whose origins date back to the sixth century.