Woman of God
Sarah Mullally has come a long way. Originally trained as a nurse, she became the bishop of London on 12 May 2018 — on Florence Nightingale’s 188th birthday.
Mullally is now the most powerful female cleric in the Church of England. The 56-year-old says the Church has to change. “Leadership in the Church needs to reflect the communities we serve,” she told The Observer. “It’s not just gender, it’s also your background that’s equally important.” Mullally, who comes from a working-class family, adds that the Church needs to encourage more priests from working-class and ethnic minority backgrounds.
After holding senior positions in the National Health Service (NHS), Mullally became a priest at the age of 40. She says that her previous experience will serve her well as a bishop. “Being a nurse is incredibly pastoral, and I bring that with me, but I’ve also managed complex organizations and provided leadership for 420,000 nurses,” she explains.
In 2005, Mullally was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire.