Scandal erupts at Anglican archbishoppess' enthronement

Archbishopess of Canterbury and Primate of All England Sarah Mullally. Photo: écran

On January 29, 2026, an incident occurred at St. Paul's Cathedral in London during the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, interrupting the solemn ritual. During the service, a public protest was voiced, after which the objector was removed from the cathedral. This is reported by Tribune Сhretienne.

The ceremony was intended to legally confirm the appointment of Sarah Mullaly as the first woman to hold the position of Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. However, the service took place in a tense atmosphere and was interrupted by an unexpected intervention from one of those present.

At the moment when the officiant announced that no objections had been raised, Anglican minister Paul Williamson shouted clearly and audibly , "I did!" – a public objection, voiced at the very heart of the rite. The protest was immediately suppressed, and the priest was removed from the cathedral. The incident, captured on video, lasted only a few seconds but disrupted the course of the ceremony.

Paul Williamson later explained that his objection concerned both the principle of the appointment itself and past accusations involving the new archbishop, which he believes remain unresolved. His protest was perceived as a symptom of a broader crisis in the Anglican world.

In recent years, a number of Anglican provinces, primarily in Africa and Asia, have refused to recognize the spiritual authority of the Canterbury See, criticizing the course of the Church of England. The incident in London became another testimony to the deepening schism, manifesting even during key church ceremonies.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the first openly homosexual archbishop admitted that her election caused parishioners to leave.

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