RMC Briefing: The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, and the challenges of a divided church
The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury inherits a daunting in-tray with crumbling buildings, falling numbers of clergy and financial pressures. How will those challenges surface at General Synod next week? And what chance does Sarah Mullally have of holding the Church together? This briefing hears from both sides of the divide, progressive and traditional, alongside seasoned Synod watchers weighing up the prospects for peace.
Religion Media Centre Podcast · Sam Wilson, Charlie Bączyk-Bell, Chantal Noppen, Ros Clarke, Susie Leafe, Francis Martin, Andrew Atherstone, Alex Frost, Tim Wyatt, Ruth Peacock
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Show Notes
The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, inherits a daunting in-tray, as faithful congregations keep the show on the road despite crumbling buildings, falling numbers of clergy and financial pressures. Nationally, the church is weary of safeguarding failures and deeply divided over same-sex blessings, with opponents already withholding funding, and plans for a parallel structure of bishops only just pulled back from the brink.
In this briefing, authors of books about the new archbishop describe her character and expectations for her tenure. Members of the Church of England’s parliament, the general synod, discuss the tensions and divisions which will once again come to the fore at next week’s synod meeting in London. Hosted by Ruth Peacock and journalist Tim Wyatt, who has written about the archbishop and the ten urgent challenges for the church, and joined by:
- Dr Andrew Atherstone, also author of a book on Sarah Mullally
- Francis Martin, Church Times reporter
- Rev Alex Frost, from Burnley, campaigning for more working-class clergy
- Rev Dr Charlie Bączyk-Bell, forensic psychiatrist and priest, LGBTQ+ campaigner
- Rev Chantal Noppen, national coordinator Inclusive Church
- Sam Wilson, parish youth minister in Chester Diocese
- Dr Ros Clarke, Associate Director of Church Society
- Susie Leafe, Director of Anglican Futures
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