Historic Moment for Church of England: Female Bishops Lead Race for New Archbishop of Canterbury

The Church of England is set to announce a new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday following a complex vetting process that has taken nearly a year to complete.

For the first time in its history dating back to 597 AD, Britain's established church could potentially be led by a woman, marking a historic milestone for the institution that serves as the mother church for 85 million Anglicans worldwide.

David Monteith, the Dean of Canterbury, expressed his excitement to the BBC about this possibility, noting that such an appointment would be "momentous." As dean, he will have the responsibility of formally installing the new Archbishop in their seat of authority during an upcoming ceremony.

The path for a female Archbishop became possible following reforms under former leader Justin Welby, who stepped down last year amid a child abuse cover-up scandal. These reforms permitted women to be consecrated as bishops a decade ago, opening the door for female leadership at the highest level.

Among the frontrunners for the position are three notable women bishops: Rachel Treweek, the first female diocesan bishop in the Church of England; Iranian-born Guli Francis-Dehqani, who sought refuge in Britain with her family following the 1979 Islamic Revolution; and Sarah Mullally, who leads the significant London diocese.

Male candidates also feature prominently in discussions, including Bishop Martyn Snow, who withdrew from leading the Church's process to bless same-sex couples citing concerns about unity, and Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, according to media reports.

Appointing a woman to this prestigious position would represent a defining moment across Christian denominations globally, though it would likely intensify theological divisions regarding same-sex relationships and women's roles within the church.

The Archbishop's global influence, shaped by the historical spread of Christianity through the British Empire, has complicated modern efforts to unify the Anglican Communion. Previous leaders have had to balance the conservative views of churches in African nations, where homosexuality is sometimes criminalized, with more progressive perspectives in Western countries.

The conservative Global Anglican Future Conference, claiming to represent most Anglicans worldwide, has rejected Welby's approach to homosexuality and maintains that only men should serve as bishops.

Meanwhile, advocacy group Women and the Church argues that further progress is needed, recently publishing a list of English churches that allegedly restrict women's ministerial roles.

Reflecting the Church of England's established status, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office will announce the decision on Friday with King Charles's formal consent. As monarch, Charles serves as the supreme governor of the Church, a role established in the 16th century when King Henry VIII separated from the Catholic Church.

The selection process involved a 17-member commission that included five representatives from the global Anglican Communion, three from Canterbury, and six from the Church of England's governing body, all led by a former intelligence officer.