By Ayomide Otitoju
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has strongly criticised the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, describing it as a “devastating” decision that disregards the current challenges facing the global Anglican Communion.
In a statement issued by the Archbishop, Metropolitan, and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, and made available to Channels Television, the church expressed deep disappointment over the development, citing theological and doctrinal concerns.
“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.
Ndukuba said the decision represented “a double jeopardy” for the church, noting that many Anglicans do not accept female headship in the episcopate and that Mullally is an advocate of same-sex marriage.
He referenced her 2023 remarks supporting the blessing of same-sex unions, in which she described the vote’s outcome as “a moment of hope for the Church.”
“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 enormous crisis across the Communion for over two decades,” the Primate added.
The Church of Nigeria further stated that Mullally’s election confirms that “the global Anglican world could no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and that of the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Reaffirming its alignment with the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), the church pledged to uphold the authority of Scripture, historic creeds, evangelism, and Christian living “irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda.”
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have consistently rejected the aberration called same-sex marriage and other ungodly teachings, to continue contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints,” the statement concluded.
Bishop Sarah Mullally, 63, was last Friday named the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her nomination, approved by King Charles III, followed the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby earlier this year amid an abuse scandal.
