The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend & Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, has today (Thursday 5 February) been reintroduced to the House of Lords, taking her seat as one of the 26 Lords Spiritual, the group of Church of England Bishops that sit in the Upper Chamber of the Houses of Parliament. She is required to be reintroduced having assumed the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Archbishop Sarah was joined by students from the Archbishop’s School in Canterbury, and supported by The Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, and Rt Revd Debbie Sellin, the Bishop of Peterborough.
The recently appointed Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Joanne Grenfell, was introduced to the House of Lords shortly afterwards.
Reflecting after the ceremony, Archbishop Sarah said: “A seat in the House of Lords comes with an enormous responsibility, and I commit to bringing a compassionate voice to my role as an advocate for equity, justice and hope. I will draw on my faith and my practical and pastoral experience as a nurse and a priest, to help scrutinise and finesse legislation that improves the lives of all those who live and work in our country – of all faiths and none.”
During the short ceremony, the writ of summons, issued by His Majesty The King was read by the Reading Clerk. The Clerk then administered the Oath, before Archbishop Sarah progressed to the Woolsack and shook hands with the Lord Speaker.
Students from the Archbishop’s School were given a tour of Parliament, with the opportunity to see Westminster Hall and the State Rooms.
