In a powerful Christmas Day address, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a stark warning that the nation's discourse on immigration is fostering division at a time when shared humanity should be a unifying force.
Dame Sarah Mullally, who will become the Church of England's most senior cleric in the new year, delivered the sermon at St Paul's Cathedral. She used the occasion to reflect on societal fractures and the Christian concept of joy as a form of resistance.
A Historic Appointment and a Timely Message
Dame Sarah Mullally made history in October 2023 when she was named as the first woman to be appointed to the role of Archbishop of Canterbury. Her election was formally confirmed in a traditional ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in November.
She is currently serving as the Bishop of London and will legally assume the title of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on 28 January 2024. Her enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral is scheduled for 25 March.
The Call for a More Compassionate National Conversation
In her sermon, Dame Sarah stated that true joy emerges in the most challenging circumstances. "Joy is born exactly where despair expects to triumph," she told the congregation.
She elaborated that this joy compels people to create space for others—in homes, churches, and public discourse. The bishop emphasised the need to be "interrupted by the needs of others," drawing a parallel to the biblical story of Bethlehem.
Addressing contemporary UK society, she highlighted several pressing issues: Many feel the weight of economic pressure, families struggle to find secure housing, and debates on assisted dying challenge fundamental understandings of life.
Central to her message was a critique of the national immigration debate. "Our national conversations about immigration continue to divide us, when our common humanity should unite us," she asserted.
Looking Forward with Resolve
Dame Sarah, 63, acknowledged these challenges can make the world seem like it is "fraying at the edges." However, she urged Christians to "hold fast to joy as an act of resistance," a joy that confronts suffering with courage rather than ignoring it.
She concluded by reflecting on the Nativity story, noting that God chose to enter a flawed world of "limited resources and crowded homes" and "political tension and uncertainty." "God does not wait for perfect conditions," she said. "God arrives in the midst of the incomplete."
Dame Sarah will succeed the 105th archbishop, Justin Welby, who formally resigned in early January 2024 after announcing his intention to step down two months prior, citing failures in handling a church safeguarding scandal.
