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| The Bishop of London |
"The 1994 cohort" doesn't sound very exciting but it's a group to which I am very proud to belong. It means the thousand plus women who were ordained in 1994 after a very long wait to become priests.
My personal thirtieth anniversary was back in April but the C of E has had various events over this last year commemorating the contribution of women (both ordained and lay) to the ministry of the church. On Friday the 1994 cohort was invited to join in the national celebration in London and over a hundred of us accepted the invitation. Since 1994 many of those thousand women have "been promoted to glory" and others are too frail to make the journey to London.
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| A "Popemobile" to take me across King's Cross Station! |
My good friend E, (a priest of a mere twenty years standing!) came with me and helped me and without her I wouldn't have been able to go. We travelled by train and taxi to make things as easy as possible for me.
First I went to Lambeth Palace (the official home of The Archbishop of Canterbury) where "the cohort" was treated to a wonderful afternoon tea. Then coaches took us to St Paul's Cathedral where the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, presided at a memorable Eucharist.
Thirty years ago we were regarded with a great deal of suspicion by both clergy an laity. It would be hard to imagine the C of E without its clergy women today. Thanks be to God!
God bless you for all your years of service!
ReplyDeleteThank you. And may he bless you for yours too!
DeleteSounds a wonderful time, glad you were able to attend.
ReplyDeleteIt was a truly memorable day.
DeleteHow nice that you were able to go to this celebration, and with good help too.
ReplyDeleteE was fantastic and Network Rail assistance was first class.
DeleteThere would be hundreds of closed and unused churches without you all - that's for sure. Thank you for your 30 years
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love it when you report on your "locals".
DeleteWell! What a reason to visit London and in such style. Blessings to you. Margaret from New Zealans
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was a memorable day!
DeleteHow wonderful. So very glad that your church acknowledges the women priests. My church, while allowing us to take part as the laity still does not allow women to become priests. I think the Catholic church is missing a great deal. But at least in my diocese we are signing covenants with the Ukrainian Catholic, Anglican, and one offshoot of the Lutheran churches enabling us to partake of communion with them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thought you might like to know that a French Roman Catholic nun helped me through the grounds of Lambeth Palace. She works there to help relationships between our two churches.
DeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I've just opened my cards and am being taken out for lunch.
ReplyDeleteThe card I put into the mail for you on the 15th came back to me marked "Return to Sender - Refused_ Unable to Forward". Have you moved?
DeleteNo, still the same house. Thank you for trying!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful day and a great reason to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteIt was! It is! Thank you.
DeleteYes, women in the clergy have been a hot button item here for years. I for one would be proud for you to be my priest! And Happy Birthday, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThat sounds like a wonderful and appropriate celebration, the tea, the visit to Lambeth and the pope mobile. I love to see the photo of you.
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