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Bristol appoints first female bishop
Bristol, the city where the first women were ordained as priests almost a quarter of a century ago, now has its first female bishop.
The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull has been appointed by the Queen to become the 57th Bishop of Bristol.
Currently the Dean of York, she will be consecrated bishop at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London in July before being installed at Bristol Cathedral in the autumn.
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The Very Revd Vivienne Faull enjoying company in the garden of Barton Hill Settlement.
The official announcement of her appointment was held at Barton Hill Settlement on Tuesday, where Dean Faull smiled as she enlightened a gathered audience about how her roots were partially planted in Bristol already by her grandfather’s involvement in returning the SS Great Britain to rest in its original dock in 1970.
She talked about how her family were envious of her next position, “beating them back to Bristol” as she said a relative had put it.
Ben Evans of the Diocese of Bristol explained how her shortlisting for the role was based on her extensive experience in the church bodies she had been a part of nationwide, her pastoral care and her familiarity with Bristol.
Dean Faull with the Right Reverend Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon
Dean Faull said she took a real pride in the “pioneering courage” of Bristol being the first city in the UK to ordain women priests.
She said: “I look forward with great joy to leading a church that shows the love of God to everybody, whoever they are,” she said. “I am coming home and it’s just glorious.”
The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, said Dean Faull “leads by following Jesus’ way with insight and oversight, with a readiness to be led as well as to lead”.
Her appointment brings the number of female bishops in the Church of England to 15.
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