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The Church of England ordains its first 32 female priests at the Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, England [1]

On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history.

On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history. The service was officiated by Bishop Barry Rogerson at Bristol Cathedral.

Rogerson ordained the women in alphabetical order, so Angela Berners-Wilson was the very first woman to be ordained.

The youngest woman to be ordained was Karen MacKinnon at age 30, with Jean Kings being the second youngest.

Historical Significance

On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history.

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  3. Brian Lara scores his maiden Test century with 277 for the West Indies v Australia in drawn 3rd Test at the Sydney Crick

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  5. American actress Julia Roberts (27) and American singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett (37) divorce after less than 2 years of m

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 12, 1994?
On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history. The service was officiated by Bishop Barry Rogerson at Bristol Cathedral. Rogerson ordained the women in alphabetical order, so Angela Berners-Wilson was the very first woman to be ordained.
Why is The Church of England ordains its first 32 female priests at the Bristol Cath... significant?
On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history.

Explore More

March 12 in HistoryYear 1994