Diocesan Press Release

Women Priests - Five Years On

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 May 1999

A number of women priests celebrated the fifth anniversary of their ordination at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 15 May. Some of them were part of the 78 women who were the first to be ordained priest in Southwark Diocese on 21 May 1994.

They gathered for a Eucharist, preceded by a meeting with the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler. In a lively exchange they discussed issues such as representation and the Act of Synod, seeking to find the best ways to deal with these issues today. There are 119 women priests in Southwark Diocese now and 64 of those are full time stipendiary priests.

In his sermon at the Eucharist Bishop Tom noted that the first time he had experienced a woman priest presiding at the Eucharist was in Hong Kong where he and his wife Barbara were visiting. His first reaction was not to like it but he quickly realised that it really didn't matter to him that the priest was a woman. "Many people feel like that once they have experienced women's ministry," he commented, "and I believe that the Church of England is a richer place because of this."

The Bishop used for the first time a chalice recently presented to the Cathedral by the Gilmore House Trust. It incorporates rings which belonged to Isabella Gilmore, the first deaconess in the Church of England. There is an Isabella Gilmore stall in the Cathedral.

After the Eucharist the women joined with Bishop Tom for a celebratory lunch at the Cathedral.

Photographs of the occasion are available on request.

Ends.