(LONDON) — Sarah Mullally warned in a Christmas Day sermon at St Paul’s Cathedral in London that Britain’s immigration debate is pulling society apart, telling worshippers that “Our national discussions surrounding immigration continue to create divisions, when it is our shared humanity that should bring us together.”
The sermon and its core message
Mullally, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury and current Bishop of London, delivered the sermon on December 25, 2025, as political tensions over immigration continued to sharpen across the UK.
She urged Christians to embrace joy as “a form of resistance” that “does not diminish suffering but confronts it with bravery.” Her remarks framed division as a moral challenge, urging listeners to look beyond polarised argument and toward what she called shared humanity.
“Our national discussions surrounding immigration continue to create divisions, when it is our shared humanity that should bring us together.”
This central warning presented immigration not as an abstract policy question but as a test of social cohesion — a theme she repeated in variations throughout the address.
Political and social context
- The sermon came amid a national conversation shaped in part by undocumented asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats.
- Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “dismantle the networks” of human traffickers, yet crossings persist.
- At the same time, the political backdrop includes the reality that most migrants arrive legally, a fact that has influenced debate and fueled support for the anti-immigration Reform party.
Mullally’s intervention placed the church’s most prominent incoming voice directly into a debate described in coverage as “dividing us.” By presenting the matter as a moral and communal issue, she put the Christmas pulpit alongside an argument that has dominated British politics.
Repetition and emphasis in the sermon
Mullally reiterated two interlinked points across the sermon:
- That the national conversation on immigration is creating divisions rather than fostering solidarity.
- That joy can be a sustaining response in hard times — not an escape but a form of endurance and defiance.
She described joy as something that confronts suffering with bravery, reinforcing the idea that faith responses should emphasise compassion and common humanity over polarisation.
Institutional backdrop and leadership transition
Mullally, 63, is scheduled to become the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury on January 28, 2026, succeeding Justin Welby, who resigned earlier in 2025 amid Church of England scandals involving cover-ups of 1970s sexual abuse cases.
Key points about the transition and its context:
- Welby’s resignation followed revelations and accusations regarding the church’s handling of abuse cases from the 1970s.
- The scandals prompted a leadership change at the top of the Church of England and increased pressure on the institution to address safeguarding and accountability.
- Mullally’s elevation will mark a historic first for the role and comes as the church navigates internal reform and public scrutiny.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 25, 2025 | Mullally delivers Christmas sermon at St Paul’s Cathedral, London |
| January 28, 2026 | Mullally scheduled to become Archbishop of Canterbury |
Public visibility and media notes
- Mullally’s position as Bishop of London has already made her one of the most visible senior figures in the church.
- St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most recognised settings for major services and national moments.
- No video of the sermon from St Paul’s was identified; a separate Christmas Eucharist service was streamed from Canterbury Cathedral the same day.
How her message intersects with government policy
Mullally’s focus on immigration put the church’s Christmas pulpit alongside government messaging that emphasises enforcement and border control.
- Starmer’s pledge to “dismantle the networks” has been a prominent element of official responses to Channel crossings, even as the crossings continue.
- The political argument has broadened beyond irregular routes to the overall scale and character of migration, influencing multiple parties including Reform.
By linking division to a loss of focus on common humanity, Mullally offered a direct moral framing of an issue political leaders have often addressed primarily through enforcement and rhetoric about criminal networks.
Final framing and takeaways
As she prepares to take office, Mullally’s sermon signalled an intention to address social strains running through public life, with immigration among the most contentious.
In words repeated to capture her central message, Mullally told the congregation:
“Our national discussions surrounding immigration continue to create divisions, when it is our shared humanity that should bring us together.”
Incoming Archbishop Sarah Mullally used her Christmas 2025 sermon to critique how the immigration debate is fracturing British society. She advocated for a focus on shared humanity and described joy as a courageous response to social hardship. Her historic appointment comes as the Church of England undergoes reform following the resignation of her predecessor, Justin Welby, amid significant institutional scandals.
