Archbishop Sarah: A Biography with Andrew Atherstone
Andrew Atherstone
49.17
26 March 2026
8 April 2026
Who is Archbishop Sarah Mullally? And what might we expect from her ministry?
Augustine of Canterbury was sent by Pope Gregory in 597 on mission to re-evangelize Britain and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Incase you haven’t heard, Anglicans have made world news for electing as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury the first woman to serve in the role, former Bishop of London, the Most Rev. Sarah Mullally.
Archbishop Sarah is coming into the role at a time of many tensions and possible changes within the Anglican Communion, including what the ABC's role should actually be and what shape the church might take under the continued pressures of disagreement over what it means to be faithful to the gospel today.
Our editor in chief, the Rev. Dr. Mark Michael, sat down with Dr. Andrew Atherstone, who has just published the definitive biography of Archbishop Sarah called (very appropriately) Archbishop Sarah Mullally: A Biography.
They talk about:
- Why she was the “dark horse” of the ABC race the bookies didn’t initially bet on.
- Why Andrew calls her a “trailblazer” and a “pioneer.”
- How 20 years in a south-side evangelical church and a 20-year career as a nurse shape her leadership.
- What we learn from a collection of her parish sermons.
- And how we might anticipate her role in the Anglican Communion’s approach to euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and other divisive issues.
Andrew is Professor of Modern Anglicanism at the University of Oxford, and Tutorial Fellow and Latimer Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is a prolific writer and biographer of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
We hope you enjoy the conversation.
From this episode:
Archbishop Sarah’s website: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/about/sarah-mullally
Archbishop Sarah Mullally: A Biography by Andrew Atherstone: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/archbishop-sarah-mullally-andrew-atherstone/1148496973
Archbishop Justin Welby: Risk Taker and Reconciler by Andrew Atherstone: https://www.abebooks.com/Archbishop-Justin-Welby-Risk-taker-Reconciler-Andrew/30051947556/bd
Ecclesiastical History of the English People and other books by the Venerable Bede: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/bede/227501/?srsltid=AfmBOoqn7LcfLQtAyvOeUKpd19-k0erKctfX9nrRKmWESk2zJcsaGbxt
Living in Love and Faith process: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith
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