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

A former NHS chief nurse, the 63-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was named as the first female Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of clergy in the Church of England.

This represents the initial occasion in almost five centuries of history that the Church has nominated a woman to lead it.

Historic Appointment

The Church has been lacking an individual in the top job for approximately twelve months after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal.

He stepped down following a critical investigation into a serial offender linked to the Church. The report found that he "could and should" have notified authorities about the misconduct by John Smyth of male youths to police in 2013.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell assumed most of the former Archbishop's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was among those casting ballots of the committee tasked with selecting his replacement.

Political Process

In line with tradition, the procedure of choosing a new archbishop involves a name being presented to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then passed to the monarch.

The Prime Minister has applauded the selection of Dame Sarah, stating: "The Archbishop of Canterbury will serve an important function in our national life. I wish her every success and anticipate working together."

While, technically, the monarch is leader of the Anglican Church, the person holding the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking cleric and is the religious guide of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Royal and Global Reaction

King Charles III has praised Dame Sarah on her new role, "a position of great significance in the UK and across the global Anglican Communion", the royal household said.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which advocates for traditional positions, has questioned the appointment, saying that although certain groups support the decision, "most members of the Anglican Communion still believes that the scriptures requires a male-only episcopacy."

Handover Process

She will not formally assume her new role until a confirmation of election in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes later, after they have pledged allegiance to the monarch.

In a statement on Friday after her appointment was finalized, she said: "I know this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a sense of peace and faith in divine guidance to carry me as He always has."

Addressing media at the historic church, she noted that "in an age that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, Anglicanism provides a more subtle approach but more resilient."

Addressing Violence

Addressing the "horrific violence" of the previous day's incident on a synagogue in Manchester, she stated "we observe hatred that rises up through divisions across our society."

She added: "The religious community have a duty to be a group who stand with the Jewish community against prejudice against Jews in all its forms. Hatred and racism of all types cannot be allowed to tear us apart."

Professional History

Married with two children, she spent over 35 years in the National Health Service, achieving the position of the most junior person to serve as chief nurse for the country in 1999.

While serving voluntarily in the religious community at the time, it was just a few years later that she chose to enter a clergy member and was promptly assigned helping make reforms in the way the organization addressed abuse.

In 2012 she became canon treasurer at the historic church before becoming Bishop of Crediton in the regional church administration in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was seen as someone who applied her background as an health service manager to help modernise the diocese.

Personal Philosophy

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and now in the religious institution.

"I prefer to think that I have consistently maintained a single calling: to pursue Christian faith, to understand his teachings and to make him known, always seeking to live with compassion in the service of others, whether as a healthcare professional, a priest, or a church official."

Future Challenges

Perhaps the most urgent thing in her agenda is still to develop improved approaches towards dealing with abuse and treating with more compassion those impacted by such incidents.

There has also been a reduction in religious participation, though London has to a degree resisted this pattern.

A particular subject she has been most outspoken about is assisted dying - she is a strong critic, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When the law was approved in the House of Commons, she characterized it as "unworkable and unsafe and poses a risk to the most at-risk individuals in our society."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as Bishop of London was to lead a committee trying to steer the religious institution's determination on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She described the decision to finally allow clergy to bless same-sex couples in 2023 as "a moment of hope for the Church."

A former Archbishop, summarised her new role as requiring a "awareness of current affairs and a Bible in the other."

The former spiritual leader explained to media outlets "the pressure of having an opinion on everything is quite heavy."