Best of the Spectator Holy Smoke: who is Sarah Mullally?
Mar 17, 2026
Andrew Atherstone, Professor of Modern Anglicanism and biographer of Sarah Mullally, outlines her rise from chief nurse to Archbishop and her evangelical roots. He explores her cautious, consensual leadership style, ambiguity on same-sex blessings, approach to safeguarding and racial justice, and the political and Communion challenges she faces. The conversation highlights her likeability and practical, pastoral instincts.
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Calm Risk Averse Leadership Over Big Initiatives
- Mullally is risk averse and deliberately cultives a calm, consistent leadership style rather than big initiatives or improvisation.
- Atherstone links this to her civil service and nursing background: scripted speeches, process focus, and reluctance to create headlines.
Hands On Nursing Reforms At Chelsea And Westminster
- As Director of Nursing at Chelsea and Westminster she implemented practical policies like needle-stick prevention and infection control, visiting wards weekly without announcing herself.
- Those hands-on reforms contrast with later critiques of her visibility as Chief Nursing Officer.
Ambiguity Cost The Living In Love And Faith Process
- Her handling of Living in Love and Faith showed pastoral accommodation and ambiguous language that pleased nobody and undermined the process.
- Atherstone and Thompson argue ambiguity aimed to avoid conflict but helped collapse the initiative.