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The 63-year-old former NHS chief nurse has been appointed as the incoming spiritual leader of the Church of England - making history as the initial female to be selected for this prestigious role.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the sixty-three-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was appointed as the first female Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of religious leadership in the Church of England.

This represents the first time in nearly 500 years of tradition that the Church has chosen a woman to guide its direction.

Historic Appointment

The Church has been without someone in the senior role for almost a year after Justin Welby stepped down over a safeguarding scandal.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church. The investigation found that he "could and should" have reported John Smyth's abuse of male youths to law enforcement in 2013.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell assumed most of the former Archbishop's responsibilities in an interim move, and was among those casting ballots of the body tasked with choosing his replacement.

Official Procedure

In line with tradition, the process of choosing a spiritual leader involves a name being presented to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then forwarded to the sovereign.

Sir Keir has applauded the selection of Dame Sarah, commenting: "This position will serve an important function in our national life. I offer my best wishes and look forward to working together."

While, technically, the King is head of the Church of England, the individual holding the position of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Monarchical and International Reaction

The monarch has praised Dame Sarah on her new role, "which is of such importance in the UK and across the worldwide Anglican community", the royal household said.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which advocates for traditional positions, has questioned the selection, saying that although some will welcome it, "most members of the global church still maintains that the scriptures mandates a all-male bishopric."

Transition Period

She does not legally take on her new role until a confirmation of election in January, and an installation ceremony comes later, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a declaration on the announcement day after her new role was confirmed, she said: "I recognize this is a significant undertaking but I undertake it with a sense of peace and faith in divine guidance to support me as has consistently occurred."

Addressing media at the historic church, she said that "in an age that seeks absolute answers and group identity, Anglicanism provides a more subtle approach but stronger."

Responding to Attack

Addressing the "horrific violence" of the previous day's incident on a synagogue in Manchester, she stated "we are witnessing hatred that emerges through fractures across our communities."

She added: "The religious community have a duty to be a group who stand with the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in every manifestation. Prejudice and discrimination of all types cannot be permitted to divide our society."

Professional History

A mother of two, she devoted more than three decades in the NHS, achieving the position of the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for the country in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the Church at the time, it was just a short time after that she chose to enter a clergy member and was promptly assigned helping implement changes in the way the organization addressed abuse.

In that year she became financial administrator at Salisbury Cathedral before assuming the role of Bishop of Crediton in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As Bishop of London she was regarded as someone who applied her background as an NHS administrator to help update the diocese.

Guiding Principles

"People frequently inquire what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and currently in the Church.

"I prefer to think that I have consistently maintained a single calling: to follow Jesus Christ, to know him and to share his message, always seeking to demonstrate empathy in the service of others, whether as a nurse, a religious leader, or a church official."

Upcoming Responsibilities

Possibly the most urgent thing in her in-tray is still to develop improved approaches towards dealing with misconduct and approaching with greater empathy those affected by it.

There has also been a decline in religious participation, though the capital has to a degree resisted this pattern.

A particular subject she has been particularly vocal on is assisted dying - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When legislation was approved in the House of Commons, she characterized it as "impractical and dangerous and creates danger to the most vulnerable people in our community."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as Bishop of London was to chair a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to sanction gay unions.

She characterized the determination to ultimately permit priests to bless same-sex couples in last year as "an optimistic development for the Church."

Rowan Williams, described her position as necessitating a "awareness of current affairs and a understanding of scripture."

Dr Williams told journalists "the pressure of having an opinion on everything is quite heavy."