Last night, on Thursday 2nd May, Manchester Cathedral hosted a service to celebrate 30 years since the first ordination of women priests. It was a wonderful opportunity for colleagues and friends to get together to reflect on all that has been achieved over the last 30 years. The Rt Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth and previously Archdeacon of Rochdale preached, and the Ven Karen Best, Archdeacon of Manchester and Acting Archdeacon of Rochdale presided at the service.
This photo features some of the Class of '94. All were ordained during the first ordinations of women to the Priesthood. Paving the way for the many gifted women priests that serve in our diocese today.
During the service, this film was shared for the first time. Featuring interviews with the first women to be ordained, those serving today and the men that support them.
A collaborative artwork was also unveiled featuring comments and reflections from women priests from around the diocese. This is a response to Eva’s Call which focused on the challenges and negative aspects of being a woman in ministry. Our artwork instead celebrates the joys and mysteries of priestly ordination. The Revd Jenni Beaumont, Bishop's Advisor for Women's Ministry, invited women from across the diocese to offer a sentence or two to populate the speech bubbles on the artwork.
And of course there was cake! A wonderful cause for celebration.
More photos are available here https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBoHXF