‘No Plan B’ if vote on women bishops lost

The Church of England would go through a “substantial period of shock” if its national assembly voted against the introduction of women bishops, a senior cleric warned.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Feb 2012, 06:00 BST

The Rt Rev Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells, said that he did not believe Church of England bishops have a “plan B” if final approval for legislation introducing female bishops is rejected in July.

“I think the implications of this measure going down are so far-reaching that we almost dare not face it,” he told a meeting in London of campaigners in favour of women bishops.

“I think we will be in such a critical place that it is extremely difficult to see how we will proceed without going through a very substantial period of shock. I wish I could say that there was a plan B – I don’t think there is.”

The earliest final approval by the General Synod for legislation would be July with the introduction of the first women bishops in 2014.

London