Women bishops by 2014, Second Church Estates Commissioner predicts: The Church of England Newspaper, August 6, 2010 p 5.

Anthony Baldry MP

First published in The Church of England Newspaper.

The first woman bishop of the Church of England could be appointed by 2014, the Second Church Estates Commissioner told Parliament on July 27.

Speaking in response to a question from the member for Kingston upon Hull North, Diana Johnson (Lab), as to his “guess” when the Church of England might first see women bishops, the Second Church Estates Commissioner Mr. Anthony Baldry stated the legislation completed its Report stage at the meeting of General Synod at York.

“It now has to go to all the 44 dioceses of the Church of England. If a majority of them agree, it will go back to General Synod, probably in 2012. If two thirds of each of the General Synod’s houses agree to it, I would then expect it to come here to the Ecclesiastical Committee and this House in 2013, and if this House agrees, we could see the appointment of the first woman bishop in 2014,” Mr. Baldry said.

The member for The Wrekin, Mr. Mark Pritchard (Cons.), rose and asked Mr. Baldry whether he agreed that “the first appointment of a female bishop, which will undoubtedly happen soon, must be on merit rather than political correctness?”

Mr. Baldry replied that he was “sure that all appointments in the Church of England, including that of the Second Church Estates Commissioner, are made on merit,” sparking laughter from some members of the House.