Year: 2025

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially cut spiritual ties with the Church of England, rejecting Bishop Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury. The move comes amid criticism of Mullally’s support for same-sex marriage and her historic role as the Church of England’s first female Archbishop, which Nigerian leaders say reflect a moral decline in Anglican leadership. In a statement by Primate Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church described the 3 October 2025 announcement as “devastating” and “insensitive,” accusing the Church of England of ignoring deep divisions within the global Anglican community. “This decision disregards the convictions of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female episcopal leadership and is compounded by Bishop Mullally’s advocacy for same-sex marriage,” the statement said. The Church cited Mullally’s 2023 remarks celebrating the Church of England’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples, calling her position a factor that deepens existing fractures in the Communion. “It is hard to see how someone who champions same-sex marriage can heal the divisions that have challenged the Anglican Communion for more than twenty years,” it added. The Church declared that the global Anglican community can no longer recognize the leadership of the Church of England or the Archbishop of Canterbury, reaffirming its loyalty to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and its principles. “As a member of GAFCON, the Church of Nigeria remains committed to Scripture, historic creeds, evangelism, and holy living, despite ongoing revisionist agendas,” the statement said. It also called on conservative Anglicans worldwide to uphold biblical teaching and resist doctrines it described as ungodly. “We urge all faithful members of the Church of England who oppose same-sex marriage and other contrary teachings to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the statement concluded.