Female priest pioneer recalls a rocky start

One of the first female priests to be ordained remembers a "significant" and "moving" occasion 30 years ago, albeit a personal journey with a "rocky start".

Rev Charmaine Host was one of 35 women admitted into the Church of England priesthood at Coventry Cathedral on 23 April, 1994.

The church had ordained its first women priests just weeks earlier at Bristol Cathedral.

Now retired, the former minister said many of her fellow clergywomen had been waiting and campaigning "a very long time" to get to that point amid some resistance.

Mrs Host, who went on to become vicar of Whitnash and Kineton, recalled the ordination as a rainy day, with the group met by women holding placards outside the cathedral door.

"[My] immediate thought was 'oh no, there’s people protesting' because there were a lot of people against the ordination of women priests," she explained.

"When I got close I realised it was a group of catholic women who were gathering to celebrate.

"That actually stands out to me as one of the most moving parts of the day."

She remembered the service, led by Dr Christina Baxter, principal of St John’s College, Nottingham, hailing Mary Magdalen as the first person to announce the resurrection.

"Jesus sent her to tell the disciples that he was risen," she said. "I think she made the point 'why have we taken so long to do the same'?"

But Mrs Host, who has written a book about her experiences, said she faced a "rocky start" in her mission to become a priest, with a vicar saying her husband would be a better fit.

"He said to me 'I think God wants you to enjoy your new kitchen a bit longer'," she explained.

Mrs Host said of the comments: "I just took it, because I did respect this vicar... In many ways he had been encouraging. At the time it was how it was."

A curate before ordination, she said the notion of priesthood grew over several years.

"It’s something indefinable... about connection with people and listening and being kind of present for them as a God person, really."

Mrs Host participated in an anniversary service at Coventry Cathedral last Sunday, during which all women ordained in 1994 were invited to lead the procession.

A spokesperson said the service, led by Bishop Ruth Worsley, gave thanks for the original 35 women and "the diocese and cathedral for acting so fast", but also looked to the future.

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