The Anglican Church of Nigeria has formally announced its spiritual separation from the Church of England, expressing strong opposition to the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Nigerian Church criticized Mullally’s endorsement of same-sex marriage and her historic role as the first woman to assume this high office, viewing these developments as indicative of a significant moral decline within the leadership of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
In an official declaration signed by the Primate, the Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church condemned the October 3, 2025 announcement as both “heartbreaking” and “disrespectful,” accusing the Church of England of disregarding the profound divisions already fracturing the global Anglican fellowship.
“This decision presents a dual challenge: it dismisses the convictions held by the majority of Anglicans who oppose female episcopal leadership, and it is deeply troubling that Bishop Mullally is a vocal advocate for same-sex marriage,” the statement emphasized.
The Church referenced Bishop Mullally’s 2023 comments following the Church of England’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples, where she hailed the decision as “a hopeful milestone” for the Church.
According to the Nigerian Church, such positions only exacerbate the existing fractures within the Anglican Communion.
“It remains unclear how someone who champions same-sex marriage-a divisive issue that has unsettled the Communion for over twenty years-can effectively heal its already fragmented unity,” the statement questioned.
Labeling this appointment as evidence that the global Anglican community can no longer accept the leadership emanating from the Church of England or the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of Nigeria reiterated its allegiance to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and its foundational values.
“As a proud member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria wholeheartedly supports GAFCON’s stance and reaffirms our commitment to uphold the authority of Scripture, historic creeds, evangelism, and a life of holy Christian conduct, despite ongoing efforts to revise these truths,” the statement declared.
The Church called on conservative Anglicans both within England and internationally to remain resolute in defending biblical doctrine and resisting teachings they consider contrary to Christian faith.
“We urge all faithful believers in the Church of England who have consistently opposed the deviation known as same-sex marriage and other unbiblical teachings to continue steadfastly contending for the faith once entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3),” the statement concluded.
