A woman's place in the Church

(Written 12/09/2010)

Quite a lot of years ago, those of us who worship at Portsmouth Cathedral were told that we were going to get a new deaconess, Jane. At the time, deacons were usually blokes who were aiming to become vicars, and deaconesses were ladies who wanted to do a bit more than sit in a pew, like handing a chalice to the celebrating priest, reading the Lesson, that sort of thing.

Jane was different. She wanted to be ordained, something that was impossible at the time, given that the Church of England didn't allow women priests. Nevertheless, Jane worked very hard in the parish, and worked harder in her spare time supporting the movement for the ordination of women. She and I met up often, as she edited the Cathedral newsletter, and I wrote most of it.

When the General Synod approved the ordination of women in 1992, Jane was the first woman to be made a vicar in our cathedral, and I remember with great affection joining the crowd who wanted to embrace her on that happy day. Not long after, she became a Canon, one step up from a vicar.

We couldn't keep her, of course - Jane was transferred to Westminster Abbey, promoted to Canon Steward. She's done well, and she deserves her success.

You might see her in the papers or on TV next week, pals... because Canon Steward Jane Hedges will, as part of a service at the Abbey, be presented to the Pope, and shake hands with him. For those who have little or no interest in Church of England or Roman Catholic matters, it will have little significance. For those of us who worship in either church, it will be groundbreaking stuff. The Pope will greet a fellow priest, and for the first time, he'll be acknowledging the priesthood of someone with a uterus.

I'm so pleased for Jane.