A CANON will take on a new role from this weekend, designed to promote the role of ordained women in the Chichester diocese.
Canon Julia Peaty will be licensed as Dean of Women’s Ministry – a position which has just been created – at Chichester Cathedral on Sunday.
Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said: “Canon Julia’s new post will give her, by right, a place at the Bishop’s staff meeting and on the Bishop’s Council, together with a clear description of her role.”
He said her role would be to ensure ‘ women in ordained and lay ministry’ are ‘recognised, valued and increased in number’.
“I am delighted that she will continue in this new post with enhanced profile and opportunities,” he said.
Canon Julia was ordained in 1999 and made Deacon in 2000.
Since 1999, she has been Curate at St Swithun’s church, in East Grinstead.
She has been Rural Dean of East Grinstead since May, 2010, and was Prebendary, Hova Ekklesia (made Canon) in September, 2010.
Speaking about Canon Julia’s experience, a cathedral spokeswoman said: “She has, for a number of years, exercised an important informal role as advisor for women’s ministry in the diocese.”
The licensing will take place on Sunday, March 3, during the Evensong service at Chichester Cathedral, starting at 3.30pm.