The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has declared spiritual independence from the Church of England, rejecting the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Church argues that Mullally’s support for same-sex marriage and elevation as the first female to hold the position represent a troubling moral decline within the Anglican Communion leadership.
In a statement issued by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, the Church described the announcement made on Friday, October 3, 2025, as ‘devastating’ and ‘insensitive,’ accusing the Church of England of ignoring the deep divisions already present in the global Anglican community.
“This election is a double jeopardy. First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans, who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is more disturbing that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage,” the statement said.
The statement referenced Bishop Mullally’s remarks in 2023, following the Church of England’s vote to approve blessings for same-sex couples, in which she described the outcome as ‘a moment of hope’ for the Church.
According to the Nigerian Church, such attitudes exacerbate the Anglican Communion’s already strained unity.
“It remains to be seen how the same person hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion by the contentious same-sex marriage, which has caused enormous crisis across the Communion for over two decades,” the Church said.
The Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the worldwide Anglican Future Conference, or GAFCON, and its principles, citing the development as proof that the worldwide Anglican world can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“On our part, as a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria affirms the GAFCON position unreservedly and reaffirms our earlier stance to uphold the authority of the Scriptures, our historic creeds, evangelism, and holy Christian living, irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda,” the statement added.
The Church urged conservative Anglicans in England and internationally to continue defending biblical truth and rejecting ‘ungodly’ beliefs that undermine the Christian faith.
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have consistently rejected the aberration called same-sex marriage and other ungodly teachings by contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the statement read.
