Carlisle Cathedral celebrates 30 years of women priests

Carlisle Cathedral hosted the Eucharist service on Saturday, September 21, at 2pm.

Carlisle Cathedral played host to the service on Saturday (Image: Jenny Woolgar Photography)

The event was presided over by the Reverend Canon Angela Whittaker, the Bishop's Adviser for Women's Ministry in the Diocese of Carlisle.

Rev. Whittaker said: "There's been a ripple of praise going on all around the country as different dioceses at different points of the year have celebrated 30 years since women were ordained to the priesthood and we wanted to be part of that ripple of praise.

"It's really good that it's taken place and even more so that it was on the same day that ordinations were held 30 years ago for some who were at the service.

"That was amazing."

The Venerable Ruth Newton, Archdeacon of Carlisle (Image: Jenny Woolgar Photography)

The newly installed Archdeacon of Carlisle, the Venerable Ruth Newton, delivered a sermon based on the passage from John's Gospel in which Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and then sees the risen Jesus.

She told the congregation: "Gratitude is at the heart of this address and this service.

"I'm thankful for the giants on whose shoulders we stand, both women and men, who advocated for women's ministry not out of personal ambition but because they believed it was right.

"These individuals not only accepted us but supported, defended, and nurtured us.

"They deserve far more than being a mere footnote in this story.

"I'm also thankful for the friendship and diverse ministries represented here, and above all, thankful to God, who called us into His service."

The celebration service, which included an opportunity for clergy to renew their commitment to ministry, also saw the acting Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Reverend Rob Saner-Haigh, chat with three of those ordained in 1994: the Reverend Lesley Ridley, Canon Wendy Sanders, and the Reverend Canon Mary Day.

The Reverend Canon Wendy Sanders (Image: Jenny Woolgar Photography)

Rev. Canon Sanders reflected on her ordination as a priest.

She said: "It's given me opportunities that I don't think I would have had in any other way.

"I've been privileged to be in people's homes and hearts in a way that is very special, particularly on funeral visits when you are meeting a bereaved family, and you know what they are going through and they share some amazing things with you.

"Special memories for me are also the fact that I was able to perform the wedding ceremony for both my daughters.

"It was all carefully planned.

"I came in as the vicar with my wedding outfit on underneath my robes.

"My hat was in the vestry.

"We went in there to sign the register, I put my hat on, took the robes off and came back out as the mother of the bride.

"It was wonderful."

On May 14 and 15, 1994, 15 women were ordained into the priesthood in the diocese, with services at Carlisle Cathedral, Holy Trinity Kendal, and St Mary and St Michael Egremont.

This year also marks the tenth anniversary of The General Synod of the Church of England giving its final approval for women to become bishops in the Church of England.

Bishop Rob Saner-Haigh (Image: Jenny Woolgar Photography)

Bishop Saner-Haigh, who pronounced a blessing at the end of the service, said: "As I looked around and went around the cathedral and saw my sisters there, I was reminded of the millions of acts of kindness and grace across our county where people have taken the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel into so many different situations.

"As I said in the service, I'm not just thankful for all those acts but also seeing in that cathedral so many women who have inspired me, shaped me and challenged me to be a better follower of Jesus.

"I was so grateful to be able to give thanks for their ministry and to give thanks to God for all that they've done over the years."