Female clergy from around the Diocese of Winchester have celebrated 30 years since their ordination to the priesthood in the Church of England.

On Saturday, June 15, a special service was led by the Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester at Winchester Cathedral.

The first services to ordain women as priests were held 30 years ago following a historic vote in the Church of England’s General Synod.

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(Image: Harvey Mills)

The very first service took place at Bristol Cathedral in March 1994, with services in our own diocese happening shortly after in Maybush Parish in Southampton, Romsey Abbey, St Michael’s Basingstoke, St Augustine’s Bournemouth and Winchester Cathedral.

To read more about the first service in our diocese, see: The Story of the First Ordination of Women Priests in Our Diocese - Diocese of Winchester.

The Rt Revd Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop for Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion, was the honoured guest preacher.

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(Image: Harvey Mills)

She spoke about the occasion being a “pearl anniversary” (as the pearl is a symbol of 30 years), and also of the challenges still faced by women today across the worldwide Church where many women do not yet have the same freedoms.

“Before there are any pearls, they begin as grit in the oyster,” she said. “We give thanks today for those whose grit in the Church of England has produced the pearls and established the norms for women that we get to enjoy.

"And we pray for the determination of those whose gritty witness comes at a high price and has yet to bear fruit, trusting that it will, given the irrepressible goodness of God.”

All the women clergy who attended the service were invited to bring along an item that represented their ministry (such as a stole, a chalice, a book, a letter, or piece of art) which were placed around an engraved candle, also specially engraved by the Cathedral for the occasion, to symbolise the joys, pains and hopes of ministry.