Revving up

The C of E’s pioneer women priests are waiting anxiously for their first female bishop

Diocese by diocese, the Church of England is voting in favour of women becoming bishops. Last week Truro, Norwich, Blackburn, Rochester, St Albans, Wakefield and Winchester gave their ‘yes’ vote to the draft legislation, bringing the total to 29 dioceses out of 44 in favour, well over the 50 per cent mark needed to allow it to go back to the General Synod for final approval next year. So far only two dioceses have voted against: Chichester and London. And even London (a notoriously prickly diocese on this issue) very nearly voted in favour. House of Bishops: two in favour (Kensington and Stepney), one against (Edmonton) and one abstention (the Bishop of London himself). House of Clergy: 39 in favour, 41 against. House of Laity: 45 in favour, 37 against. So (requiring a majority in all three Houses) the outcome came down to two clergy votes.