By Rachie Ross, a climate campaigner and former Operation Noah trustee

Sarah Mullally has already gone down in history as a trailblazer: the youngest Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Patient Experience for the NHS, the first female Bishop of London, and now the first female Archbishop of Canterbury! 

A nurse first, cleric second – both pastoral, strategic roles placing people at the centre, surrounded with love and targeted care. 

Meeting Bishop Sarah face to face in 2021 to discuss fossil fuel divestment in the Diocese of London, I was met with humility, respect and keen interest.

She intensely listened to the science alongside the moral and Christian responsibility to act. She didn’t just pay lip service, instead she understood the real challenges and safeguarding issues around climate breakdown. In January 2023, the Diocese of London backed progressive divestment and joined Operation Noah’s Global Divestment Announcement, in no small part because Bishop Sarah welcomed conversations with Operation Noah amongst others. 

Archbishop Sarah brings a robust understanding of safeguarding in all aspects of church life, which is so desperately needed, and I’m confident she will continue to push the Church of England to do right by their investments – we know the power of money and the corruption of corporations putting money and profit above the flourishing of planet and people. Operation Noah will continue to support her in this endeavour. 

Wouldn’t it be great if Sarah became a trailblazer for our over-heating planet and go down in history as the Archbishop who joined the dots between health, spiritual integrity and climate justice? A sick planet causes sick people, a dying planet calls for spiritual and financial bravery. 

Christians are a funny lot! Called to unity and love, centred around Christ, yet many are already tearing Sarah down on various platforms for being a woman, or for her supportive stance on blessing those in the LGBT community, or for some other reason. A woman in this role follows Mary Magdalene – and I for one want that kind of leader in the top ranks of church decision making; one who was close to Christ, uniquely understood his teachings, was emotionally literate and understood the priorities of the Gospel. 

We pray for Sarah Mullally to be the Archbishop we need in this moment in history – humble and open of heart, resilient, and telling the truth that Christians need to be the change.