From 1980, Dame Sarah had been a nurse, eventually becoming the youngest ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999.
She was still performing that role when she was ordained as a priest in 2002 and became the first female Bishop of London in 2018.
In the days leading up to the service, Dame Sarah walked nearly 90 miles over six days in a pilgrimage from St Paul’s Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral.
The theme of “pilgrimage” continues into this afternoon’s installation service too, with religious rites performed in locations through the cathedral from its western most to eastern most ends.
It will begin with Dame Sarah knocking three times on the West Door of the cathedral with her pastoral staff after which she will be welcomed by local schoolchildren.
In the nave she will swear an oath on the Saint John’s Bible, the first time a new bible has been used since 1945, in what is being seen as a reflection of modernisation.
In the choir she will be installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury in the “Cathedral Chair” before moving to the famous “Chair of St Augustine” to be installed as Primate of All England.
While the service is rooted in historical significance, Dame Sarah has had a hand in choosing some of the hymns.
As well as the dignitaries and faith leaders invited to be part of the congregation, will be NHS nurses and carers from the Canterbury area.
There will also be nods to the diversity of the global Anglican Communion – with singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish and a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia.
