A special conversation with the first four female Anglican Communion primates

[Episcopal News Service] In the lead-up to the historic installation of Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally as the first woman to serve in the role in its more than 1,400-year history, Episcopal News Service convened a conversation with the Anglican Communion’s first four female primates.

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori served as presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2015. Archbishop Linda Nicholls was the Anglican Church of Canada’s primate from 2019 to 2024. Archbishop Marinez Rosa dos Santos Bassotto has been primate of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil since 2022. Archbishop Cherry Vann became primate of the Church in Wales in 2025.

The conversation was facilitated by ENS managing editor Lynette Wilson and was coordinated with assistance from the Rev. Charles Robertson, canon and senior adviser to Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.

A thank you to Christina Takatsu Winnischofer, the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil’s provincial secretary, for providing Portuguese interpretation, and Mike Collins, The Episcopal Church’s multimedia services manager, for editing.