The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, hopes the vote to allow women bishops will be ‘a great blessing’ to the Church as a whole.
The General Synod has now given its final approval for women to become bishops in the Church of England.
The vote, which had been anticipated, means the first woman bishop could potentially be appointed by the end of the year.
Writing for Chester Diocesan News, before the results of the General Synod vote was known, Bishop Peter said: “We must all pray with confidence that the introduction of women bishops into the Church of England in 2015 will prove to be a great blessing to the Church as a whole.”
Bishop Peter, who did not take part in the vote due to a private family occasion, supports the consecration of women bishops and ordains women into the priesthood but abstained on previous proposals in 2012 when he expressed the desire to maintain unity at that time.
The Rev Alison Cox, who is the sole female clergy representative for Chester diocese on General Synod, said: “I am delighted that the vote to allow women to become bishops has been passed.
“The timing of the voting going through, and the tone of the debate in the chamber, convinced me that now it was right; in November 2012, it would not have been for the whole Church.”
Alison, who is Priest in Charge of St Mark’s, Dukinfield, and Rural Dean of Mottram, added: “Many people, including those who have opposed this decision of the Church Of England, have accepted that the measure should pass and believe that we will be able to work out the living of this reality together.
“I personally have learnt a lot from this process of how to handle difference and yet remain together.
“I feel very proud to have been a part of history and grateful for the willingness of those who struggle with this development to nevertheless support it for the greater good of the Church and our common witness to Jesus Christ. We have been truly blessed.”
