The public ministry of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will begin with her installation on Wednesday 25 March 2026. When she takes up this office, the Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally also becomes a President of Churches Together in England (CTE).
CTE has six Presidents, who represent the major traditions of our national Member Churches. They meet regularly and liaise on a wide variety of issues of common interest and concern. In the past, they have visited the Holy Land together.
Each President signs a Covenant which describes their commitment to each other and to the churches in England.
Read the CTE Presidents’ Covenant in full.
Towards the beginning of her installation service, Archbishop Sarah will renew her commitment to work ecumenically. Fellow CTE Presidents Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman and Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson will invite her to sign the CTE ecumenical covenant. Archbishop Sarah will then exchange greetings with all the CTE Presidents and the CTE General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal (see pages 19 and 20 of the Order of Service for the installation.)
Later in the service, another CTE President, the Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, will do a reading from the Old Testament.
At Archbishop Richard’s own installation service in February, Archbishop Sarah brought an ecumenical greeting to him, flanked by the Presidents of the Free Churches Group, Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, and the Orthodox Churches, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan.
As a symbol of the strong ties between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, Archbishop Sarah will wear the pastoral ring given to Archbishop Michael Ramsey in Rome by Pope Paul VI in 1966, specially fitted for her by the Crown Jeweller.
Ecumenical guests in the congregation in Canterbury Cathedral will include delegations from the Holy See, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Coptic Orthodox Church, and all major Christian denominations. Interfaith representatives will also be present.
Representatives of CTE partners Christian Aid and the bereavement charity AtaLoss, with whom Archbishop Sarah has close ties, have also been invited to attend.
Who are the CTE Presidents?
Most Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury
Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster
Bishop Tedroy Powell, CTE Pentecostal and Charismatic President, and National Bishop of the Church of God of Prophecy UK
Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman, CTE President for the Fourth Presidency Group and Head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain
Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of the Free Churches Group
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, CTE President for the Orthodox Churches, and Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland
‘Rooted in centuries of tradition’
The service is being held on the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Church marks the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, bearing the news that she will become the mother of Jesus. The service will reflect the theme of Mary saying yes to the calling of God, and how this offers hope for the Church and the world today.
Rooted in centuries of tradition, the service will celebrate and reflect the diversity of the nation, Church of England and the Anglican Communion – a global family of churches across 165 countries. At least 32 provinces (member churches) of the Anglican Communion will be represented, with an expected 26 Primates in attendance, and four others sending official representatives. Many will robe and process through the Cathedral’s nave, including five of the ‘Africa Six’ – the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa.
The service will blend choral music led by the Cathedral Choir with music from around the Communion, featuring a Kyrie sung in Urdu and readings, prayers, music and a blessing, in six languages including English. The music to greet the proclamation of the Gospel will be provided by the African Choir of Norfolk with their members drawn from a wide range of countries.
Contributions from members of the Anglican Communion include a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia by the Most Rev Albert Chama, Primate of the Church of the Province of Central Africa; and the Gospel reading in Spanish from the Bishop of Mexico, and acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Mexico, Rev Alba Sally Sue Hernández García.
Read a Q & A with Archbishop Sarah Mullally as she steps up into her new role.
Watch the installation of Archbishop Sarah live on YouTube.
Photo: Copyright Brendan Foster Photography