Who runs the Church? Girls!

Today marks a historic moment in history, the installation of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally. She has promised to bring calmness, consistency and compassion to the role. Which having worked alongside the Church of England for the last three years, I think is exactly what they need.

I was lucky enough to be in London on the 28th January to witness the Confirmation of the Election service for the new Archbishop which took place in St Paul’s Cathedral. Her election confirmed once the legal stuff was completed was greeted with rapturous applause and the cheering usually reserved for pop stars!

At last year’s General Synod Sarah spoke of the institutional barriers and micro aggressions that women continue to face in the Church, despite women being ordained since 1994 and the first female Bishops in 2015. It is no surprise that there has been some hostility towards the appointment of a woman in the pivotal role many quoting Paul the Apostle in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man.”

This got me thinking. I grew up attending and Anglican church on a Sunday and was educated in the church school next door and apart from the Priest the whole place appeared to a child, to be run by women. The women did the coffee after church which fostered community and conversation, they wrote the church newsletter which kept people in contact with those who were unwell, grieving or celebrating. My Sunday school and school teachers were predominantly women. My Grandma cleaned the church, was in Mothers Union and Thursday Club, she was also on the flower committee, helped organise the fundraising social events. My Mum rang the church bells. My sister was a Brownie leader. My Dad and Grandpa were involved but it felt to me only in a minor way, doing Sidesman duties on a rota and Dad also rang the bells.

So, on reflection, women have been in charge of the Church for decades!