Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London set to become Archbishop of Canterbury on January 28, warned in a St Paul's Cathedral Christmas sermon that the UK's immigration debate is dividing society. She urged Christians to hold "joy as an act of resistance" that acknowledges suffering and calls for courageous compassion. The sermon arrives amid political pressure over Channel crossings and rising support for the hard‑right Reform Party. Mullally will succeed Justin Welby as the Church confronts historic safeguarding failures and a separate 2020 complaint about Mullally's handling of allegations.
Incoming Archbishop Sarah Mullally: Immigration Debate 'Dividing Britain' — Urges 'Joy as an Act of Resistance'
'Many feel the weight of economic pressure. Some feel pushed to the margins,' said incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally (-)(-/House of Commons/AFP)
Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London who will become Archbishop of Canterbury on January 28, warned in a Christmas sermon at St Paul's Cathedral that public debates about immigration are fracturing British society and called for a more compassionate response.
Currently 63, Mullally will be the first woman to lead the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion, which counts roughly 85 million members worldwide. Her sermon foregrounded the moral and social consequences of a heated political conversation that, she said, should be grounded in shared humanity.
"Our national conversations about immigration continue to divide us, when our common humanity should unite us," Mullally told the congregation. She added: "We who are Christians then hold fast to joy as an act of resistance."
She described that joy as "the kind of joy that does not minimise suffering but meets it with courage."
Political Context
Immigration and Channel crossings have become central political issues in the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to "smash the gangs" of people smugglers facilitating small-boat crossings of the English Channel — a problem that remains politically volatile despite efforts to reduce arrivals.
Most migrants arrive through legal channels, but the issue has been seized on by the hard-right Reform Party as it seeks electoral support. The rise in backing for Reform echoes gains by far-right movements elsewhere in Europe, raising concerns about polarization and the tone of public debate.
Church Leadership And Safeguarding Issues
Mullally will succeed Justin Welby, who stepped down earlier this year following an investigation that found the Church of England had covered up a 1970s case of serial sexual abuse of boys and young men. The church continues to grapple with longstanding accusations of safeguarding failures and cover-ups, a crisis that has dented its moral authority.
Separately, the Church is examining a 2020 complaint regarding Mullally's handling of allegations raised by an individual identified as "N." Mullally and the institution face scrutiny as they seek to restore public trust while addressing both pastoral and institutional challenges.
What Mullally Called For: In calling for courage and compassionate engagement, Mullally urged Christians — and public figures more broadly — to respond to immigration and suffering without reducing pain or stoking division, framing joy as an ethical stance rather than escape.
