A Māori minister from Hawke’s Bay, the Reverend Canon Isaac Beach, helped the Church of England to choose Dame Sarah Mullally as its first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
A Māori minister from Hawke’s Bay, the Reverend Canon Isaac Beach, helped the Church of England to choose Dame Sarah Mullally as its first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
A Māori minister from Hawke’s Bay helped the Church of England to choose its first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
In March 2026, Dame Sarah Mullally will become the first woman to be installed at Canterbury Cathedral as head of the church of 86 million people.
A New ZealandAnglican priest, the Reverend Canon Isaac Beach (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rangitihi), was one of five international appointments to the 17-person Crown Nominations Commission that made the selection.
“For many, this may indeed feel like a ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ moment. Yet throughout scripture, God consistently calls women to positions of leadership and service – so a woman in leadership is not new to us.
Canon Isaac Beach helped the Church of England to select its first female Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo / J.Clarke-Morris / Anglican Taonga
Beach’s role was to represent Oceania in the decision, which was personally approved by King Charles in his capacity as head of the Church of England, and announced on Saturday, NZ time.
“In my own whakapapa, I come from a strong matriarchal line of leadership, where some of the greatest rangatira have been women,“ Beach told the Herald.
Dame Sarah Mullally will be installed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral next March.
When Mullally’s selection was announced, she said: “This is a huge responsibility, but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has.”
She has been outspoken on political and social issues during her tenure as Bishop of London, including describing the vote to approve blessings for same-sex couples in the Church of England as a “moment of hope”.
Beach said it was an honour to serve God and the church in any way he could.
“Whether that means washing the dishes after a shared lunch following Sunday Eucharist at my local parish, or contributing to the discernment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
“Both acts of service are equally important in the life of a follower of Jesus, as each is an expression of our call to serve God and one another,“ he told the Herald.
Joseph Los’e joined NZME in 2022 as kaupapa Māori editor. Los’e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.
