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| March though London to mark 20 years of women priests | March though London to mark 20 years of women priests |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A procession through London will celebrate 20 years since the first women were ordained as priests in the Church of England. | A procession through London will celebrate 20 years since the first women were ordained as priests in the Church of England. |
| More than a thousand women priests are expected to march from Westminster Abbey to St Paul's Cathedral, where a special service will be held. | More than a thousand women priests are expected to march from Westminster Abbey to St Paul's Cathedral, where a special service will be held. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will deliver a sermon. | The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will deliver a sermon. |
| Every woman ordained in 1994 has been invited, while all 42 dioceses in England are expected to be represented. | Every woman ordained in 1994 has been invited, while all 42 dioceses in England are expected to be represented. |
| The service will give thanks for the dedication of women ordained into the Church and is set to reflect on the work they have achieved since 1994. | The service will give thanks for the dedication of women ordained into the Church and is set to reflect on the work they have achieved since 1994. |
| A large screen will be situated outside St Paul's to relay the service to people outside. | A large screen will be situated outside St Paul's to relay the service to people outside. |
| 'Moving occasion' | 'Moving occasion' |
| Organisers have said the service will demonstrate the Church's public approval of the ordination of women. | Organisers have said the service will demonstrate the Church's public approval of the ordination of women. |
| It comes as legislation is considered that could lead to the first women bishops being ordained early next year. | It comes as legislation is considered that could lead to the first women bishops being ordained early next year. |
| The Reverend Canon Philippa Boardman, treasurer of St Paul's, will preside at the service and said the event would be "just the beginning of so many good things to come". | The Reverend Canon Philippa Boardman, treasurer of St Paul's, will preside at the service and said the event would be "just the beginning of so many good things to come". |
| "Twenty years ago when the huge wooden doors of St Paul's Cathedral swung open as the procession of the soon-to-be-ordained women came in, it was a time of great hope and also some concern about the impact on the unity of the Church. | "Twenty years ago when the huge wooden doors of St Paul's Cathedral swung open as the procession of the soon-to-be-ordained women came in, it was a time of great hope and also some concern about the impact on the unity of the Church. |
| "Twenty years on, many of these hopes have been fulfilled and fears allayed as women and men have worked together as priests, bringing new life to churches and parishes including some of the neediest communities in our country" | "Twenty years on, many of these hopes have been fulfilled and fears allayed as women and men have worked together as priests, bringing new life to churches and parishes including some of the neediest communities in our country" |
| Speaking to the BBC, she added: "There has also been a theme, because women have been perhaps marginalised in the Church they have a special affinity with those who are marginalised and have had a big commitment to draw those people into the wider Church." | Speaking to the BBC, she added: "There has also been a theme, because women have been perhaps marginalised in the Church they have a special affinity with those who are marginalised and have had a big commitment to draw those people into the wider Church." |
| Great career | |
| But the Rev Sally Hitchiner, a priest and senior chaplain at Brunel University in London, said women still had some way to go to achieve equality in the Church. | |
| "I think it's a wider reflection of society that young women in general don't feel as confident as young men often do. Part of that is role models, part of that is the pressures on girls in particular in society. | |
| "But part of that is just that we need to get the message out there that the Church believes in women and young women in particular can come through and have a great career in the Church." | |
| The Venerable Dr Jane Hedges, canon steward of Westminster Abbey, said the procession would be "an exciting and a moving occasion". | The Venerable Dr Jane Hedges, canon steward of Westminster Abbey, said the procession would be "an exciting and a moving occasion". |
| "This may be the first time that so many women priests will have been together in one gathering alongside the many people who have supported us down through the years. | "This may be the first time that so many women priests will have been together in one gathering alongside the many people who have supported us down through the years. |
| "I hope the procession and service will also be an inspiration to others, especially younger women, to think about a possible vocation to the priesthood," she said. | "I hope the procession and service will also be an inspiration to others, especially younger women, to think about a possible vocation to the priesthood," she said. |
| The procession was due to leave the Dean's Yard of Westminster Abbey at 13:00 BST on Saturday and reach St Paul's for the service, which will begin at 17:00 BST. |