The first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, will visit the Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa from Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 8, 2026. The visit, confirmed in a March 27 announcement by Lambeth Palace, was extended at the invitation of the Primate of West Africa and Bishop of Asante-Mampong, the Most Reverend Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith. Archbishop Mullally, who serves as the senior bishop of the Church of England and symbolic leader of Anglicans worldwide, will travel to Ghana and Cameroon during the trip. The Church of the Province of West Africa comprises 19 dioceses across eight countries, though the itinerary includes only two nations.
Lambeth Palace stated the purpose of the visit is "to learn and listen, to strengthen the ties between the See of Canterbury and the Province, and to foster deeper ecumenical relationships." It forms part of Archbishop Mullally's broader commitment to engagement across the global Anglican Communion. The trip follows an online meeting between Archbishop Mullally and Archbishop Cyril, who attended her installation at Canterbury Cathedral in March.
