Synod rejects women bishops

women, it’s awful for their morale, but it’s a disaster for the Church of England.”

The House of Bishops voted 44 in favour of the legislation after an emotional debate, with three against and two recorded abstentions, while in the House of Clergy, 148 voted in favour, 45 against and there were no abstentions.

In the House of Laity, however, 74 voted against, compared with 132 in favour with no abstentions.

Rev Weir added: “In the General Synod we have a grossly over-representational number of extremely conservative wings of the Church.

“They’re not representational views from the pews, the majority of people would love to have women bishops.”

The legislation required a two thirds majority in all three Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity but failed to achieve that majority in the House of Laity by six votes. Had the legislation been passed, it would have made its way through Parliament before receiving royal assent.

The Very Rev Vivienne Faull, 57, Dean of York Minster, who was among the first 1,000 women to be ordained in the Church of England, had been considered one of those most likely to break through the “stained glass ceiling”.

Asked what happens next, Ms Weir, from the Oxford Diocese, said: “We’ll move heaven and earth to get this back on track as soon as possible.”

Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, launched a campaign in favour of a yes vote last month, and his successor-to-be the Rt Rev Justin Welby yesterday urged the General Synod to give the legislation the necessary majority.

But a series of speakers had opposed giving final approval to the legislation, warning it was insufficient for those who opposed the move.

The House of Bishops was due to hold an emergency meeting this morning.