THE 133rd Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, bade an emotional farewell to her diocese on the weekend. The sung eucharist in St Paul’s Cathedral was an intimate occasion, given several personal touches.
Bishop Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, was installed in St Paul’s in May 2018 (News, 17 May 2018). Reflecting on her episcopate, she said in her sermon on Saturday afternoon: “In my eight years amongst you, I even have prayed with you, laughed with you, wept for you in your times of struggle, and sought to support your unique ministries. And, where I even have seen you do that for each other — especially reaching out across your different traditions — I even have rejoiced.”
She thanked her diocese for having “shaped me into the priest and the person I’m today. If it weren’t for you and all that you’ve gotten taught me, I’d not be going to Canterbury.”
But it was also a time for humility. “We have, previously eight years, grown together in wisdom. It has not at all times been easy. I even have not at all times got all the things right. You have challenged me, and I feel and act otherwise now due to a few of those challenges.”
Bishop Mullaly said that she was “grateful that you’ve gotten taught me that our strength lies in our diversity, in our willingness to see Christ uniquely reflected in everyone, in having the humility to receive the gift of each other even after we deeply disagree”. This echoed an earlier and eirenic note that, despite tackling “each other’s mistakes or misunderstandings . . . we should always not seek to harm or destroy each other in the method. We shouldn’t deliberately shame each other.”
The service, with incense and Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass, included a latest anthem by Sarah MacDonald. The music set Bishop Mullally’s own words, from her announcement speech last October in Canterbury Cathedral (News, 3 October 2025): “I trust not in myself alone, but in God who guides us all. May we be daring in hope, generous in spirit, and steadfast in love, as we serve Christ and each other.” The composer is President of the Royal College of Organists and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge.
Several Victorian hymns or hymn translations — including “Christ is made the sure Foundation”, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”, “Alleluya, sing to Jesus”, and “Thy hand, O God, has guided” — gave the massive congregation a chance to precise their very own gratitude and joy. Representatives from different parts of the diocese, each clerical and lay, led the prayers of intercession. Thanks were offered “for the faithful ministry of Bishop Sarah”, along with prayer for “grace, patience, and renewed strength as she prepares to grow to be the Archbishop of Canterbury”.
After the blessing, the choir sang Judith Bingham’s setting of verses from Psalm 133 — an anthem commissioned for the 2018 installation service — as Bishop Mullally went in procession with the world bishops and cathedral clergy to the high altar. She surrendered the diocesan crosier, and her mitre and chasuble were removed by her colleagues. Taking up her personal crosier, she then proceeded the total length of the cathedral to the font for further prayer and the dismissal.
It is greater than 80 years since London sent a bishop to the see of Canterbury: that was Geoffrey Fisher, in 1945. He served in London for six years, and was Archbishop for 16 years.
Bishop Mullally will return to St Paul’s for the confirmation, on 28 January, of her election. Then she is going to make the short journey to what’s going to soon be her old home as Her Grace, the 106th and first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
