You are here
House of Lords to get its first EVER female bishop when Parliament returns after the election
Rachel Treweek will become the most senior woman bishop in the country
Archdeacon of Hackney has been named the next Bishop of Gloucester
She will take up her seat in the Lords after Parliament returns from recess
By Tom Mctague, Deputy Political Editor for Mailonline
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
March 26, 2015
Rachel Treweek, the Archdeacon of Hackney, will become the most senior woman bishop in the country after being named the next Bishop of Gloucester.
While she is only the third woman to be made a bishop since the Church of England broke with centuries of tradition earlier this year, the Venerable Treweek will become the first to become a peer.
The Church of England peers -- known as 31 'Lords Spiritual' -- which are usually decided on seniority but the Government has introduced new rules to fast-track women bishops into the Lords.The new bishop has been Archdeacon of Hackney in north east London since 2011.
She was raised in Hertfordshire, studied linguistics at Reading University and worked as a speech and language therapist before entering the church.
The 52-year-old -- who is married to a priest-in-charge of two parishes in the City of London -- then attended Oxford University's evangelical theological college Wycliffe Hall and was ordained in 1994.
The Venerable Treweek today revealed she was 'surprised' at her appointment but said it was 'an immense joy and privilege'.
She said: 'I have to admit, even a little daunted by the prospect, but my overwhelming feeling is one of excitement to be coming to join with others in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people of this diocese.'
The appointment means she is the first woman to run a diocese and is one rank below an Archbishop.
She said: 'I am looking forward to encouraging Christians to speak out with confidence about their faith and the good news that the Gospel brings. It will be my privilege to work with churches as we connect with people, wherever they are and whatever their concerns.
'My calling to the role of bishop has been shaped by human encounter. I believe profoundly that relationship is at the heart of who God is. I have been with people through the joys and pains of their lives and it is these experiences that I will reflect upon as I take up this new role.'
The Venerable Treweek was a curate at St George and All Saints in Tufnell Park before becoming Vicar of St James the Less in Bethnal Green in 1999. She was appointed Archdeacon of Northolt in 2006.
END
