We'll be celebrating a service to mark 30 years since the ordination of women as priests within our diocese. The Eucharistic service will be led by women, including some of those who were ordained as priests in our cathedral and elsewhere in 1994. They will concelebrate alongside the Ven Kathryn Percival, Archdeacon of the Meon, with Bishop Jonathan acting as their deacon. Canon Angela Tilby will preach and other women priests from different generations will lead different aspects of our worship. Join us for this special event!

You can see a photo above of the first 20 women priests ordained in our diocese, back in May 1994. Although the first women were ordained as priests in the Church of England in March 1994, our celebration will mark 30 years since women were ordained as priests in our cathedral.

The full list of those ordained in our cathedral on Ascension Day and on Pentecost Sunday 1994, and pictured above at their pre-ordiantion retreat is:

(back row, left to right):

• the Rev Sue Martin,
• the Rev Carol Smart,
• the Rev Rose Bullock,
• the Rev Sandra Lloyd,
• the Rev Jane Richards,
• the Rev Juliet Grace,
• Canon Jenny Lowater,
• the Rev Doreen Jackson,
• the Rev Catherine Bell (now Moss),
• the Very Rev Jane Hedges,
• the Rev Mary MacVicar,
• Canon Betty Hammond, and
• the Rev Margaret Sherwin

(front row, left to right):

• the Rev Fay Stranack,
• the Rev April Richards,
• the Rev Beryl Stares,
• the Rev Ann Burr and
• Canon Gill Hill.

Not pictured, but ordained at the same time were:

• the Rev Jeanette Power and
• the Rev Ruth Jagger.