Nigeria’s Anglican Communion kicks against Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly criticised the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, describing the development as “devastating” and “insensitive” to the beliefs of the majority within the Anglican Communion.

In a statement issued by Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the Archbishop, Metropolitan, and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the church said Mullally’s appointment disregards the current realities and deep divisions within the global Anglican family.

“The news of the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally on Friday, 3rd October 2025, as the next Archbishop of Canterbury is devastating, one that ignores the current situation and challenges being faced by the Anglican Communion,” the statement read.

“It is a double jeopardy; first, in its insensitivity to the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who are unable to embrace female headship in the episcopate, and second, more disturbing that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage as evidenced in her speech in 2023, after a vote to approve the blessings of homos3xuals when she described the result as a ‘moment of hope for the Church.’”

The Church of Nigeria further questioned how Mullally, a known advocate of same-s3x blessings, could unify the Anglican Communion amid longstanding divisions on s3xuality and doctrine.

“It remains to be seen how the same person hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion by the contentious same-sex marriage, which has caused an enormous crisis across the entire Anglican Communion for over two decades,” the statement added.

The Nigerian church said the appointment was further proof that the global Anglican world can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England or that of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“On our part, as a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria affirms the GAFCON position unreservedly, and reaffirms our earlier stance to uphold the authority of the Scriptures, our historic creeds, evangelism, and holy Christian living, irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda, believing our Lord Jesus Christ has built His church and ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’ (Matthew 16:18),” Ndukuba said.

He encouraged faithful members within the Church of England who continue to reject same-s3x marriage and related teachings to “contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Mullally’s appointment, approved by King Charles III following the recommendation of a nomination committee, makes her the first woman in history to become Archbishop of Canterbury. She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned earlier in the year amid an abuse scandal.

At 63, Mullally becomes the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic moment for the Church of England, the mother church of the global Anglican Communion, which traces its roots back to the sixth century.

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