As we mark the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood, the Rev Pamela Ive, Director of Vocations and Ordinands, reflects on the history and development of all women's ministry within the Church of England, and the pioneering part women within the Diocese of Rochester have played.
Women were some of the first people who witnessed to the resurrected Jesus and in the post-resurrection New Testament, women were active and valued members of the Early Church.
The Diocese of Rochester has had a significant part to play in encouraging and developing the ministry of pioneering women in the Order of Deaconess.
In 1886, the Bishop of Rochester, Anthony Thorold, reviewing the Diocese, recognised that the rapidly growing urban areas in South London presented a problem and sought a suitable candidate to run a Diocesan Deaconess House - the Order of Deaconess being a newly revived Lay Order for women in the Church of England.
He chose Isabella Gilmore to be Head of the Rochester Deaconess House and she developed a style of ministry for those pioneering women which placed them not living together in separate Deaconess houses, but in parishes, ministering alongside male clergy.
Photo: Isabella Gilmore (public domain)
Isabella also insisted that these women should be trained not just in social care but should also receive theological training.
This pattern of training and working was 'exported' both around the Church of England and also in other parts of the world such as India, China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
The Rochester-trained deaconesses often went to those places to spread the good practice. It took another 101 years for women to be ordained as clergy in the Church of England, in 1987 to serve as Deacons, together with men, and seven years later in 1994 as priests.
Today, God continues to call women and men in the Diocese of Rochester to a variety of roles in authorised and licenced ministry.
From the It’s Your Calling day, people work with the Vocations Team and explore their callings to ordination as Deacons and Priests, Anna Chaplaincy, work with young people and families, Licenced Lay Ministry, and holders of the Bishop’s Certificate.
Many others through their everyday faith are affirmed in their call to witness to Jesus Christ, in their workplace, communities and families.
It is a reason to celebrate that all are invited to listen and be obedient to God’s call.
Pamela Ive, Director of Vocations and Ordinands.
If you would like to explore how God may be calling you, please visit our God's plan for you pages, or email vocations@rochester.anglican.org