1. Home
  2. News & events
  3. News
  4. Twenty Years of Women’s Priestly Ministry

Twenty Years of Women’s Priestly Ministry

Date:
Sat 17th May 2014

Hundreds of female priests, family, friends and well-wishers from across the North of England came to York Minster today to celebrate twenty years of women’s priestly ministry in the Church of England. The Dean of York, the Very Revd Vivienne Faull, led the service, and Margaret Sentamu preached the sermon. You can see more pictures from the service here.

The Very Revd Vivienne Faull said, “I was one of those women ordained priest in 1994, and I am delighted to be here and to give thanks for the journey so far. The service celebrated women's priestly ministry, particularly in the north of England, and the calling of all Christians to God's service in the Church. We give thanks for the journey so far in Yorkshire and beyond, and for the many ways in which women now have the freedom to serve.”

Women were first ordained priest at York Minster in May 1994 and many of those ordained in that service, and in others ordained that spring, were present.

The Revd Canon Sue Sheriff, Vicar of Tadcaster, was ordained as a priest in York Minster in May 1994. She said, "I’d been a Deacon for seven years before I could be ordained as a priest, and when I was, it was wonderful. When the bishop laid his hands on me to ordain me, I remember closing my eyes and not wanting that moment to end. After the Minster service in 1994 I went back to Hull for a party, and when I stepped through the door of my local pub, everyone burst into cheers. Celebrating Communion in my church for the first time was deeply moving, saying and acting out the words of Jesus blew me away, and it felt so humbling to be giving communion to my parents. It’s been an amazing twenty years serving God and the community as a priest, and I look forward to the next twenty years!”

Margaret Sentamu said, “Although I am not ordained myself, I have been blessed by many female priests over the last twenty years, and have been privileged to serve God alongside them. This service is a chance for everyone to give thanks to God for the priestly ministry of women in the church, and to look forward to how we can all serve God in our lives.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu gave a blessing at the end of the celebrations.