Pilgrim’s Progress

A truly historic event took place yesterday, and I believe it made God very happy.

Sarah Mullally, the 106^th Archbishop of Canterbury, was enthroned in Canterbury Cathedral before a diverse congregation of more than 2,000 people from all across the world. As Archbishop, she is the head of The Church of England and the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, a global network of churches of which the Episcopal Church is a member. She is the first woman to serve in this role, and her appointment represents a major progressive shift for a church rooted in tradition and history.

If you enjoy tradition and sacred ritual as much as I do, the service is well worth watching. But my favorite part of the enthronement was not the liturgy itself, but the days leading up to it. Archbishop Mullally arrived at Canterbury Cathedral on foot, having departed from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London six days prior. She is the first Archbishop in modern times to undertake this ancient pilgrimage route known as the Becket Camino. She and others walked more than 90 miles, stopping along the way for meals, meetings with local schoolchildren, worship, and rest. I have been so moved by the power of this humble way of beginning her tenure.

It was particularly exciting for me to watch the enthronement because it took place in Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of the places I will visit in June with a group of pilgrims from St. Alban’s. Canterbury is the oldest cathedral in England, founded in 597 by Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury who helped to establish Christianity in that part of Britain. We will be arriving by bus, not on foot, but our journey will surely be filled with prayer and joy, just as Archbishop Mullally’s journey was.

As Episcopalians, we are deeply connected to the Church of England through our shared history and our practice of common prayer. I am praying for Archbishop Mullally as she carries the weight of the sacred duty to which she has been called. May God bless her on her pilgrimage.

Yours in Christ,

Carmen