Archbishop Faces Abuse Complaint Over Mishandled Case

New Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, faces a complaint over handling abuse allegations, highlighting Church of England accountability issues.

New Archbishop of Canterbury Under Scrutiny Over Abuse Case

Britain’s incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, is facing a complaint over her handling of a clergy abuse allegation. She is set to take office on 28 January 2026.

Complaint Details

The complaint concerns how Dame Sarah, currently Bishop of London, dealt with allegations against a priest in London. Church officials confirmed the complaint was initially filed in 2020 but was not properly addressed due to administrative errors and mistaken assumptions about the complainant’s intentions. At the time, Dame Sarah was reportedly unaware of the complaint.

Church Response

Church authorities stated that while the Diocese of London had addressed the abuse allegations against the priest, the complainant’s separate claim against Dame Sarah personally was mishandled. Lambeth Palace now says the complainant was assumed not to wish to pursue the matter further, though confirmation was not sought.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace added that the provincial registrar has apologized and the complaint will now follow the correct statutory process. The complainant, identified as “N,” reported serious mental health impacts due to the mishandling of the case.

Dame Sarah’s Statement

Dame Sarah, a former NHS chief nurse, acknowledged the error and expressed regret:
“I am seeking assurance that processes are strengthened to ensure all complaints at Lambeth Palace are handled promptly and correctly.”

Historical Context

Dame Sarah became the first female Bishop of London in 2018 and will be the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury. She succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned following criticism over his handling of a major child abuse case.

Church Accountability Challenges

The Church of England has faced increased scrutiny over safeguarding issues. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who temporarily covered Welby’s responsibilities, has also been criticized over his handling of abuse allegations.