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Church of England appoints most senior female bishop
Church of England appoints most senior female bishop
(about 4 hours later)
The first female diocesan bishop has been appointed by the Church of England with the announcement that the Venerable Rachel Treweek is to become the new bishop of Gloucester.
A former speech therapist has been appointed the bishop of Gloucester, becoming the most senior female bishop in the Church of England.
Treweek, a former speech therapist who is currently Archdeacon of Hackney, said it was “an immense joy and privilege”.
Rachel Treweek, 52, the archdeacon of Hackney, is the first female diocesan bishop and will be eligible to join lords spiritual - the bishops of the Church of England who serve in the House of Lords.
Although two women have been appointed bishops by the church, Treweek is the first in charge of a diocese and the first female Lord Spiritual, making her the most senior female bishop. She takes over the role from the Rt Rev Michael Perham, who retired in November.
Treweek, a long champion of women’s ministry, she said she felt “enormously humbled” and hoped that appointments such as hers would now become “normal” in the church.
She said: “I am surprised and, I have to admit, even a little daunted by the prospect. But my overwhelming feeling is one of excitement to be coming to join with others in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people of the diocese.”
Speaking at a farm near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Treweek, whose husband is a priest, said: “All through my life I’ve felt that it is very important that everyone can be the person they are called to be.”
She said of leaving London: “During my years in London, firstly as a speech and language therapist and then in ordained ministry, it has been a privilege to connect with the lives of adults and children from diverse backgrounds and experiences; in places of both deprivation and affluence, and amidst life’s pain and celebration. Living these relationships and experiences has taught me and formed me.
“Therefore, since I’ve been on the General Synod I’ve certainly played a key role in those debates. It’s my real hope that from this time on that any child, any adult, will know that they can be the person that God is calling them to be.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities this diocese has given me to grow in my ministry. I have been blessed to have worked with so many inspiring, passionate and committed people and I have learnt so much from so many.”
“I hope that – while today is incredibly special and I feel enormously humbled to be here – this will become something normal in the Church of England.
She added: “I will be very sad to leave London but I know that I will take with me the diverse experiences I have gained here. I hope that I will continue to grow and learn in this new and exciting role to which God has called me.”
“I hope that we will see bishops who are men and woman, we’ll see parish priests who are men and women, and we’ll see laity – who are out there today doing amazing things – being the people that God has called them to be.”
Treweek, whose husband, Guy, is also a priest, has been long admired for her work in a tough London borough. Educated at Reading University, she was ordained as a deacon in 1994 and a priest in 1995. Following a curacy at St George’s in Tufnell Park, north London, she became vicar of St James-the-Less in Bethnal Green, east London, when she became the Archdeacon of Northolt, before being appointed to the Hackney post.
Treweek replaces Michael Perham who retired in November.
Her appointment follows that of the Rev Canon Alison White as the new Bishop of Hull, and the Rev Libby Lane as Bishop of Stockport.
Raised in Hertfordshire, she studied linguistics at Reading University, and worked as a speech and language therapist before entering the church.
It was welcomed throughout the church. The archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, the Most Rev Desmond Tutu, said: “What fantastic news. Wow. How wonderful so soon after Bishop Libby. I’m thrilled for you, dear Rachel, and I am thrilled for the diocese of Gloucester, for the Church of England, for the Church of God and for all of us. Yippee.”
She was ordained in 1994. She married Guy Treweek, priest-in-charge of two parishes in the City of London, in 2006, the same year she was appointed archdeacon of Northolt. In 2011 she became archdeacon of Hackney.
The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, said: “As Richard of Gloucester is reinterred, Rachel of Gloucester is revealed. Rachel has served her entire ministry in the Diocese of London, excelling wherever she has been. She has twice acted as Archdeacon, in Northolt and then Hackney – two highly demanding and contrasting areas where she has shone in equal measure.
Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, described it as “fantastic news”. He said: “I am so thrilled for you dear Rachel, and I’m thrilled for the diocese of Gloucester, for the Church of England, for the Church of God and for all of us. Yippee”.
“While we are very sorry to see her go, Gloucester has appointed someone with real quality and distinction. We look forward to continuing to support her in the years to come”.
Referring to the interment of Richard III in Leicester, the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, said: “As Richard of Gloucester is reinterred, Rachel of Gloucester is revealed. While we are very sorry to see her go, Gloucester has appointed someone with real quality and distinction.”
The Rt Rev Lane said: “I congratulate Rachel on her nomination as Bishop of Gloucester. She is an exceptional priest whose leadership is well proven. She is both genuinely caring and deeply insightful.”
Her appointment follows that of Alison White , 58, as the new bishop of Hull, and Libby Lane, 48, as the bishop of Stockport. Lane described Treweek as “an exceptional priest whose leadership is well proven” and a woman “both genuinely caring and deeply insightful”.
Her formal enthronement as bishop of the diocese, which is home to 600,000 people and 205 parishes, will take place at Gloucester Cathedral later this year.
