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The 63-year-old former NHS chief nurse has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - creating a milestone as the initial female to be picked for this prestigious role.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the 63-year-old entered the priesthood in 2006 and was named as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - occupying the third highest position of religious leadership in the Anglican Church.

This signifies the initial occasion in almost five centuries of tradition that the Church has nominated a woman to guide its direction.

Groundbreaking Appointment

The Anglican Church has been without someone in the leading position for almost a year after the previous Archbishop resigned over a protection controversy.

He stepped down following a damning report into a serial offender linked to the Church. The investigation found that he "could and should" have notified authorities about the misconduct by John Smyth of boys and young men to law enforcement in 2013.

The Archbishop of York took on most of Mr Welby's responsibilities in an temporary arrangement, and was one of the voting members of the committee charged with selecting his replacement.

Political Process

Following established custom, the process of selecting a new archbishop involves a candidate being given to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then passed to the sovereign.

The Prime Minister has applauded Dame Sarah's appointment, saying: "This position will play a key role in our national life. I offer my best wishes and look forward to working together."

Although formally, the monarch is head of the Anglican Church, the person occupying the position of spiritual leader is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Monarchical and Global Response

King Charles III has congratulated Dame Sarah on her new role, "which is of such importance in the UK and across the worldwide Anglican community", the royal household stated.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which advocates for traditional positions, has criticised the appointment, stating that although some will welcome it, "most members of the Anglican Communion still believes that the scriptures mandates a male-only episcopacy."

Transition Period

She will not formally assume her new role until a formal approval process in the new year, and an enthronement service comes subsequently, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a declaration on Friday after her new role was confirmed, she said: "I recognize this is a huge responsibility but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to support me as He always has."

Speaking from Canterbury Cathedral, she said that "in an age that craves certainty and group identity, the Anglican tradition offers something quieter but stronger."

Responding to Attack

Addressing the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in Manchester, she stated "we are witnessing prejudice that emerges through divisions across our communities."

She continued: "We then as a Church have a responsibility 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 tear us apart."

Background and Career

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

Although she was volunteering in the religious community at the period, it was just a short time after that she chose to enter a clergy member and was quickly tasked with helping make reforms in the way the institution addressed misconduct.

In 2012 she became financial administrator at Salisbury Cathedral before becoming diocesan leader in the diocese of Exeter in 2015.

As London's religious leader she was seen as someone who used her experience as an NHS administrator to help update the church district.

Personal Philosophy

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

"I like to consider that I have always had a single calling: to follow Jesus Christ, to know him and to make him known, continually striving to live with compassion in the assistance to people, whether as a healthcare professional, a priest, or a bishop."

Future Challenges

Possibly the most urgent thing in her agenda is still to chart a better path towards addressing abuse and approaching with greater empathy those affected by it.

There has also been a reduction in religious participation, though London has to some extent bucked that trend.

One of the areas she has been particularly vocal on is assisted dying - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her predecessor.

When legislation was passed in the House of Commons, she described it as "impractical and dangerous and creates danger to the most at-risk individuals in our community."

Progressive Stances

Among her responsibilities as Bishop of London was to chair a body trying to steer the Church's decision on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She described the determination to finally allow clergy to sanction gay relationships in 2023 as "a moment of hope for the religious community."

Rowan Williams, summarised her position as necessitating a "newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other."

The former spiritual leader explained to journalists "the expectation of having an position on all matters is significantly demanding."