THE Bishop of Salisbury has expressed his ‘great joy’ after legislation allowing women to become Church of England bishops passed its final hurdle.

An amendment to the legislation was passed on Monday at the General Synod
meeting held in London.

The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam said: “It was a great joy to go to the General Synod to vote on the ordination of women to the episcopate for the last time. Alleluia.”

Legislation introducing the first women bishops in the Church of England was backed in July and since then has been approved in Parliament and received Royal Assent from the Queen.

The Reverend Claire Maxim, the rector of Ludgershall and Faberstown, said: “I am delighted. It means women can finally follow their calling.

“It is good for the whole church. Theologically, it is the right thing to do as it makes us whole and makes us holy.”

She added: “To a secular world that expects equality as a matter of course it
makes us more relevant.”

This was echoed by the Reverend Jane Tailby, Naddervalley Team Ministry team vicar, said: “As a female priest I am delighted with the news. It has been a while coming. I am looking forward to the first appointments.

“As far as the church living in the 21st century, it will, I hope, give us a greater sense of respect from the wider world and relevance to the modern world.

“We have to be relevant to now and increase our respect from the wider public. We have a wonderful message we have to share."

She added: “We have a wealth of talent around in our very gifted women priests and we are now able to use that talent alongside male colleagues.”

A service was recently held in Salisbury Cathedral marking 20 years of
women in priestly ministry.

The Right Reverend Holtam added: “We looked back with thanksgiving and forward with hope.

“For women to minister alongside men in all three orders of ordained min¬
istry is in George Herbert’s phrase, ‘heaven in ordinary ’ and, for the C of E,
‘something understood’.”