The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has declared its spiritual independence from the Church of England following the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
In a statement issued by Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, on Monday, described the announcement made on October 3, 2025, as “devastating” and “insensitive.”
According to him the decision represents a “double jeopardy” for the faith: “First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is deeply troubling that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.”
The Church recalled Bishop Mullally’s 2023 remarks after the Church of England approved blessings for same-sex couples, when she described the move as “a moment of hope.” The Nigerian Church said such views further damage efforts to preserve unity within the Anglican Communion.
“It remains unclear how someone who upholds same-sex marriage can hope to heal the already fractured fabric of the Communion,” the statement added, describing the situation as evidence that global Anglicanism could no longer accept the moral and spiritual leadership of the Church of England.
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have resisted the aberration called same-sex marriage to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the Church said.
