Britain is preparing to announce the subsequent Archbishop of Canterbury this Friday, and for the primary time in history, the frontrunners include two women who could tackle the role of spiritual leader for 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
The decision will come almost a 12 months after Justin Welby stepped down following a baby abuse cover-up scandal that shook the Church of England. Whoever succeeds him because the 106th Archbishop will inherit a church wrestling with deep divisions – over same-sex blessings, women’s leadership, and its place in a rapidly changing society.
Among the leading candidates is Bishop Rachel Treweek, the primary woman ever to be appointed as a diocesan bishop within the Church of England. Known for her pastoral warmth and her determination to modernise church culture, Treweek has been a vocal advocate for inclusion and openness. Her rise marked a turning point within the Church’s history, a decade after women were first consecrated as bishops.
Supporters see her as someone who could embody the long run of Anglicanism – a church willing to embrace change while holding to its ancient traditions. Critics, particularly amongst conservative Anglicans overseas, argue that appointing a lady archbishop would deepen the fault lines already visible within the Communion.
Equally compelling is the candidacy of Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani. Born in Iran, she fled together with her family as a baby after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, eventually constructing her life and ministry in Britain. Her personal story of displacement and resilience gives her a singular perspective on faith in an increasingly diverse and fractured world.
As one in every of the Church’s few senior leaders from a minority ethnic background, she has consistently spoken about justice, reconciliation, and the necessity for the Church to reflect the communities it serves. Her appointment would send a strong message about belonging and inclusivity, not simply to Anglicans but to the broader global audience watching closely.
The alternative between Treweek and Francis-Dehqani comes at a moment when global Christianity is itself under pressure. The Anglican Communion spans continents, with liberal congregations within the West and conservative ones in Africa and Asia – regions where homosexuality stays illegal and feminine leadership is usually rejected outright.
The selection process has been unusually long, involving a commission led by former MI5 chief Jonathan Evans, who sought to broaden the pool of candidates beyond the “white, Oxbridge, male” stereotype that has defined much of the Church’s leadership.
The final advice will go from the commission to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, after which to King Charles III, who, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, must give formal consent.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is greater than just the pinnacle of the Church of England. The role carries global significance, setting the tone for Anglicanism in every corner of the world.
Choosing a lady for the post wouldn’t just make history in Britain; it will reverberate across religious institutions all over the place, difficult assumptions about who can lead in faith.
