The first woman to become Archbishop of Canterbury has said her teenage self could not have imagined making history as the top bishop in the Church of England.
Sarah Mullally was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral in front of a 2,000-strong congregation, which included the Prince and Princess of Wales and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the cathedral ahead of the service, including one man who said he was keen to "see this brilliant moment in history".
Nods to the contribution of women were woven throughout the service today, including music celebrating the contribution of female scholars, musicians and writers through the years to the church.
Some of the so-called "Africa Six" - the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa - formed part of the cathedral procession.
Archbishop Mullally, who was named last year as the first woman to hold the high office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its 1,400-year history, told the congregation her younger self could not have envisaged this day.
During her sermon she referred to Mary, the mother of God, who she said had to trust "in a future she couldn't yet see - a future she could never have imagined".
Archbishop Mullally, who became a Christian at 16, said: "This resonates with me, as I look back over my life - at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus.
"I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called."
The archbishop, in an earlier interview with the BBC, had said she hoped the ceremony "celebrating women" could show people "it's entirely possible for you to follow your dreams and what you want to do".
Near the start of the ceremony, historically known as an enthronement, Archbishop Mullally performed the traditional knock three times at the cathedral's West Door using her pastoral staff, before being welcomed by local schoolchildren from John Wallis Academy in Ashford, Kent.
She was formally installed in two chairs - first placed into the diocesan Bishop's Chair, which dates from 1844, and then the ancient Chair of St Augustine, which dates from the early 13th century.
While Archbishop Mullally's appointment has been welcomed by many, she has also recognised that there is not universal support for women bishops, and has pledged to "create a space where there is difference".
Her election was described as "devastating" by Archbishop Henry Ndukuba of the Church of Nigeria, who said last year it was insensitive "to the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who are unable to embrace female headship in the episcopate".
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and chairman of Gafcon (Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans), Laurent Mbanda, previously published a statement saying the "majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy".
Today's ceremony went ahead despite the meningitis outbreak in Kent, as officials said the event had been "categorised as low risk".
Among the congregation were NHS nurses and carers working in hospitals and hospices in Canterbury, in honour of Archbishop Mullally's previous role as chief nursing officer in England before she was ordained.
