On 25 March 2026, a historic milestone was reached when, for the first
time in the 1,400-year history of the role of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, a woman was installed.
Dame Sarah Mullally formally took her seat on the Chair of St Augustine at
Canterbury Cathedral before an audience of around 2,000 distinguished
guests, including Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prime
Minister Keir Starmer.
Her Grace Visakha Dasi, Temple President, was invited to attend as part of
a multi-faith presence in the Cathedral: “Representing Bhaktivedanta Manor
at this momentous occasion, I was deeply struck by the spirit of
inclusivity that permeated the ceremony. Religious leaders from a wide
range of faiths and Christian denominations gathered together, reflecting
a genuine sense of unity. The celebrations were enriched by vibrant
elements such as traditional African dance, along with prayers and singing
in African languages, Urdu, and Spanish.
“The atmosphere throughout was one of harmony—embracing diversity across
faiths, cultures, generations, and traditions, while bridging the gap
between heritage and modernity.
“I am grateful that Bhaktivedanta Manor, and the Hare Krishna movement
founded by Srila Prabhupada, were represented at this historic event.
Inspired by the strong example of inclusivity set on this occasion, I look
forward to continued cooperation with people of all backgrounds in
promoting greater God consciousness in a world that greatly needs it”.
