Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
She is the first woman appointed to the Church of England's most senior clerical role in its nearly 500-year history.
The Church of England has been without an Archbishop of Canterbury for nearly a year, following Justin Welby's resignation in November.
He failed to report prolific child abuser John Smyth.
Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury
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In 1999, Dame Sarah became the youngest-ever Chief Nursing Officer for England.
A date for her enthronement ceremony is yet to be announced.
Both female and male bishops were in the running for the role.
Women were first allowed to be ordained as priests in the Church in 1994, and the first female bishop appointments followed 20 years later, in 2014.
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A date for her enthronement ceremony is yet to be announced
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As well as being the most senior member of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury preside over the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury and has authority over the bishops and clergy in the 30 dioceses of southern England.
They officiate at significant national ceremonies, such as royal coronations and funerals.
The Archbishop is one of the 26 bishops known as Lords Spiritual and plays an active role in the House of Lords.
In a statement following confirmation of her appointment, she said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.
Dame Sarah Mullally is the first woman appointed to the Church of England's most senior clerical role in its nearly 500-year history
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She added: "At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.
"I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.
"And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.
"I know 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."
Justin Welby stepped down as the Archbishop of Canterbury
| PAPrime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed Dame Sarah Mullally's appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
He said: "The Church of England is of profound importance to this country.
"Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.
"The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together."
Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally described the Manchester synagogue terror attack as 'horrific' and warned that 'hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart'
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The newly-named Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally described the Manchester synagogue terror attack as “horrific” and warned that “hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart” in her first address.
Speaking in Canterbury Cathedral on Friday after she was named archbishop-designate, Dame Sarah Mullally said: "Today, as I respond to the call of Christ to a new ministry, I remain rooted in my first calling: to follow Christ, to know him, and to make him known to the world.
"Reflecting on the experiences which have prepared me for this role, I am deeply thankful to the people, churches and communities of the Diocese of London.”
She said it was a "privilege” to have shared ministry with them for eight years.
She added: “Washing feet has shaped my Christian vocation as a nurse, then a priest, then a bishop, in the apparent chaos which surrounds us in the midst of such profound global uncertainty, the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love."