Nigeria’s Anglican Church breaks from Canterbury Over Appointment of Pro-LGBTQ+ Female Archbishop

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has announced its spiritual independence from the Church of England, rejecting the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

In a statement issued by its Primate, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, the Nigerian Church condemned Mullally’s appointment on October 3, 2025, describing it as a sign of “troubling moral decline” within Anglican leadership due to her support for same-sex marriage and status as the first female to hold the position.

“This election is a double jeopardy. It disregards the convictions of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female episcopal headship, and it is disturbing that Bishop Mullally is a strong advocate of same-sex marriage,” the statement read.

The Church referenced Mullally’s 2023 remarks welcoming the Church of England’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples, calling her views a threat to the unity of the global Anglican Communion.

“It remains to be seen how she hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion, which has been fractured over the same-sex marriage issue for more than two decades,” the statement added.

The Church of Nigeria declared it can no longer accept the leadership of the Church of England or the Archbishop of Canterbury and reaffirmed its allegiance to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and its principles.

“As a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria unreservedly affirms the GAFCON position, upholding the authority of Scripture, historic creeds, evangelism, and holy Christian living despite ongoing revisionist agendas,” the statement emphasized.

Finally, the Church urged conservative Anglicans worldwide to remain steadfast in defending biblical truth and rejecting teachings that compromise the Christian faith.