Revd Judith Rose who was the first female archdeacon in the Church of England has published a new book that offers a first-hand account of the evolution of women’s ministry. Published by Kevin Mayhew, Judith’s book, ‘ First In Line’, is a personal yet historical narrative of calling, perseverance, and institutional change.
Judith says, “It’s a sort of biography, but it’s written from a particular point of view—the development of women’s ministry within the Church of England, from my own experience.”
Her publishers describe Judith as a trailblazer who “….tells a typically modest tale of her own life and ministry as women began more firmly to take their proper place in the life of the Church of England. In fact, she was a trailblazer, time and again gently but firmly pushing the Church on to accept the role of women alongside men.
“She shares the challenges of breaking through ecclesiastical ‘glass ceilings’, the joys and frustrations of parish and cathedral life, and the pivotal moments that changed the face of the Church of England forever.”
Judith’s journey began in 1966, when she entered ministry as a parish worker for which she had to undergo selection and training. At the time, there were no pathways for women to be ordained. “I preached services, I did a lot of lay training, a lot of pastoral work, but I wasn’t ordained.
And back then, the idea of ordaining women wasn’t even being seriously discussed in most places. It wasn’t a hot topic.”
Despite those limitations, Judith felt called by God to continue her ministry. “I tell the story about my calling at the beginning of the book. God called me into this, and He didn’t revoke that call. So, I always felt, ‘Well, you’re just stuck with it, girl’.
Judith served in a range of roles that mirrored ordained ministry in all but name. In 1980, she joined the staff of Bradford Cathedral as cathedral chaplain. Though she preached, led worship, ran home groups, trained lay people, and led youth work, she still lacked formal recognition and authority. She says, “I had responsibility, but I didn’t have the appropriate authority. It was quite difficult.”
In 1985, Judith moved to a large team parish in the Diocese of Rochester. “I did the job of a team vicar, but I wasn’t ordained, so I couldn’t actually hold the post. That was one of the frustrating points. I had all the experience but couldn’t put it fully into practice.”
That changed in 1987, when the Church of England first permitted the ordination of women as deacons. Judith became one of the first women to be ordained and soon after was invited to serve as a rural dean, becoming the first woman in the Church of England to hold the role.
In 1994, after nearly three decades of ministry, Judith was ordained priest in Rochester Cathedral. She reflects on her journey, “Most people are ordained within a year of training. For me, it was 28 years.”
Judith’s journey didn’t stop there, she went on to become the Church of England’s first woman to serve as an archdeacon, though again the title was initially “acting archdeacon” because the Church still had to change its laws to accommodate her appointment.
Judith’s book traces all of this, not simply as a career, but as a record of a lifelong calling. Judith says she never set out to break ground, nor does she see herself as a pioneer. She says the book is, “An historical journey. People don’t always realise the joys and the frustrations; the slow progress, the waiting that went before. I hope people will be interested to see how it happened from a personal perspective. I hope it will encourage people, not just women, but anyone who believes in the importance of men and women working together, complementing one another, respecting each other’s gifts.”
Judith adds that while the Church has made significant progress, there’s still work to do. “The Church doesn’t move very fast. We have to be a Church relevant for today’s world, and that changes over time. I think in some places there’s still development to go on, but that’s for the next generation to take forward.”
Judith’s book is available now, published by Kevin Mayhew.
A book launch will be held in St Andrew’s Church, Cheddar on Wednesday 16 July at 7.00 pm.