The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has declared its spiritual independence from the Church of England, rejecting Bishop Sarah Mullally’s appointment as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Church stated that her support for same-sex marriage and her elevation as the first female to hold this position represent a concerning moral decline within the leadership of the Anglican Communion.
In a statement signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church described the announcement made on Friday, 3 October 2025, as ‘devastating’ and ‘insensitive’, accusing the Church of England of disregarding the deep divisions already present within the global Anglican community.
“This election poses a double jeopardy. Firstly, it neglects the convictions of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female leadership in the episcopate. Secondly, it is particularly troubling that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a staunch supporter of same-sex marriage,” the statement read.
The statement recalled Bishop Mullally’s remarks from 2023 following a vote by the Church of England to approve blessings for same-sex couples, in which she referred to the outcome as ‘a moment of hope’ for the Church.
The Nigerian Church asserted that such views exacerbate the wounds already threatening the unity of the Anglican Communion.
“It remains to be seen how the same individual intends to heal the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion, exacerbated by the contentious issue of same-sex marriage, which has caused significant crises across the Communion for over two decades,” the Church remarked.
Describing this development as evidence that the global Anglican community can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England or the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and its principles.
“As a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria wholeheartedly affirms the GAFCON position and reiterates 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 continued.
The Church urged conservative Anglicans in England and elsewhere to remain resolute in defending biblical truth and resisting ‘ungodly’ teachings that compromise the Christian faith.
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have consistently rejected the aberration known as same-sex marriage and other unholy teachings to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the statement concluded.
