Female Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury and therefore first female leader of the Church of England.

I was discussing this with my daughter earlier. She was questioning me whether I'd move my attendance to CoE church now. I said I did not think so.

She then said. Isn't it incredible to be alive now when things like this area happening for us.

She's right.

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SomeMichGuy · M

first female leader of the Church of England

With the CoE beginning in 597, these females would have been leaders of the CoE preceding this first female primate:

Elizabeth I, 1558 -1603
Mary II, 1689 - 1694
Anne, 1702 - 1707
Victoria, 1837–1901
Elizabeth II, 1952 - 2022

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@SomeMichGuy But not Archbishops of Canterbury (primates). The Monarch is always the earthly titular head of the CofE but has not exercised any authority in modern history.

SomeMichGuy · M

@FreddieUK Indeed, but, from Hank 8 on, the monarch HAS been that authority, and those queens after his break with Rome WERE the supreme leaders of the CoE.

From the wikipedia, for instance,

The British monarch has the constitutional title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The canon law of the Church of England states, "We acknowledge that the King's most excellent Majesty, acting according to the laws of the realm, is the highest power under God in this kingdom, and has supreme authority over all persons in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil."[214]

That doesn't say that the prime primate is a priori primus over the monarch.

And it has two primates, though York is "Primate of England" and doesn't get any special powers, just letters and letterhead.

I wonder if that title was the inspiration for the important letters in Dr. Strangelove...

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@SomeMichGuy

I wonder if that title was the inspiration for the important letters in Dr. Strangelove...

🤣🤣

I think that like much of the unwritten British Constitution, the de facto head of the CofE (and at the moment) the worldwide Anglican Church is the Archbishishop of Canterbury and the Monarch defers to her/him in the same way as they defer to the elected Government and Parliament.

SomeMichGuy · M

@FreddieUK True--regarding the CoE, and it is mentioned later in that part of the article--butn nonetheless, canon says the monarch is the ultimate Earthly authority in these matters.

So those women were the supreme Earthly authorities over the CoE during each of there post-Hank8 reigns. lol