Ordination of Women: 30th Anniversary

Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab) and Rosie Duffield (Canterbury) (Ind) asked the Government what steps the Church is taking to mark the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women. In response, Marsha De Cordova highlighted the significance of this milestone, noting that Tuesday 12 March 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the first ordinations of women as priests in the Church of England, with around 6,500 women ordained since 1994. She acknowledged that women now make up about one third of the clergy in England, and that many services of celebration have taken place across the country to recognise the contributions of these women. However, she emphasised that there is still more work to be done in this area. Dawn Butler then praised the excellent work of Bishop Rose, who in 2007 became the first ever black female chaplain to the late Queen, and in 2010 was the first ever black female appointed as chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. Since 2019, Bishop Rose has been the Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury, making her Britain's first ever black female bishop. Marsha De Cordova expressed her pride in honouring Bishop Rose, particularly during Black History Month, and also paid tribute to Tricia Hillas, the former Speaker's chaplain. Rosie Duffield welcomed Marsha De Cordova to her position and expressed her delight at attending the 30-year anniversary service at Canterbury Cathedral, which was conducted by Bishop Rose. Duffield also congratulated the pioneering women, including her partner's mother, Canon Eileen Routh, who faced hostility when entering their new vocations 30 years ago. Marsha De Cordova echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the challenges faced by these women and the importance of celebrating their achievements to spur further progress.