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The 63-year-old former NHS chief nurse has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - making history as the first woman to be selected for this significant position.

Previously England's chief nursing officer, the sixty-three-year-old became a priest in 2006 and was appointed as the initial woman to serve as Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of religious leadership in the Church of England.

This marks the initial occasion in almost five centuries of tradition that the Anglican Communion has nominated a woman to lead it.

Historic Selection

The Church has been lacking an individual in the senior role for approximately twelve months after the previous Archbishop resigned over a safeguarding scandal.

He departed following a damning report into a serial offender linked to the Church. The report found that he "could and should" have reported the misconduct by John Smyth of male youths to police in 2013.

The Archbishop of York took on most of Mr Welby's duties in an temporary arrangement, and was among those casting ballots of the body tasked with selecting his replacement.

Official Process

Following established custom, the process of selecting a spiritual leader involves a candidate being given to the Prime Minister and then forwarded to the monarch.

Sir Keir has welcomed Dame Sarah's appointment, saying: "This position will serve an important function in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together."

Although formally, the King is head of the Church of England, the individual occupying the position of spiritual leader is the highest-ranking cleric and is the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Royal and Global Reaction

The monarch has congratulated the new Archbishop on her appointment, "which is of such importance in the United Kingdom and across the worldwide Anglican community", the royal household announced.

The international conservative Anglican group, which represents conservative views, has criticised the appointment, stating that although some will welcome it, "most members of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible mandates a male-only episcopacy."

Handover Process

She does not legally take on her new role until a formal approval process in the new year, and an installation ceremony comes later, after they have paid homage to the King.

In a statement on Friday after her new role was finalized, she commented: "I recognize this is a significant undertaking but I approach it with a feeling of calm and faith in divine guidance to carry me as He always has."

Addressing media at the historic church, she said that "during a period that seeks absolute answers and tribalism, the Anglican tradition offers something quieter but stronger."

Addressing Violence

Addressing the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a Jewish house of worship in the northern city, she said "we are witnessing hatred that rises up through divisions across our communities."

She added: "The religious community have a duty to be a people who support the Jewish people against antisemitism in every manifestation. Prejudice and discrimination of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart."

Professional History

Married with two children, she devoted more than three decades in the NHS, becoming the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for the country in 1999.

Although she was volunteering in the religious community at the time, it was just a short time after that she chose to enter a clergy member and was quickly tasked with helping make reforms in the way the organization addressed misconduct.

In 2012 she became canon treasurer at the historic church before assuming the role of diocesan leader in the regional church administration in 2015.

As Bishop of London she was regarded as someone who applied her background as an health service manager to help modernise the diocese.

Guiding Principles

"I am often asked what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and currently in the religious institution.

"I prefer to think that I have consistently maintained a single calling: to follow Jesus Christ, to understand his teachings and to share his message, always seeking to demonstrate empathy in the assistance to people, whether as a nurse, a priest, or a church official."

Future Challenges

Perhaps the most urgent thing in her in-tray is still to chart a better path towards dealing with abuse and approaching with greater empathy those affected by it.

There has also been a reduction in church attendance, though the capital has to a degree bucked that trend.

A particular subject she has been most outspoken about is end-of-life choices - she is a vociferous opponent, as was her preceding Archbishop.

When legislation was passed in the House of Commons, she described it as "unworkable and unsafe and creates danger to the most at-risk individuals in our community."

Modern Positions

One of her roles as London's religious leader was to chair a committee trying to guide the Church's decision on whether to bless same-sex marriages.

She characterized the decision to finally allow priests to bless same-sex couples in last year as "an optimistic development for the religious community."

Rowan Williams, described her position as necessitating a "awareness of current affairs and a understanding of scripture."

The former spiritual leader told journalists "the expectation of having an opinion on everything is quite heavy."