Women bishops

Minister protests outside Cathedral over consecration

A hardline evangelical minister has protested the consecration of two women bishops at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Rev Stephen Holland attended the ceremony yesterday (Wednesday), arguing that it is “unbiblical” that Jo Bailey Wells and Jan Mcfarlane become bishops.

Mr Holland, whose independent church is in Bolton, Lancs, travelled to Canterbury specifically to protest.

“I believe the consecration of women bishops is unbiblical and contradicts scripture and I have protested against this at Westminster and York Minster,” the 49-year-old said.

“This protest is nothing to do with superiority or inferiority or even ability.

“It is to do with the creative issue. Men are providers and protectors and men are called upon to lead and this threatens to upset that and the part that men have to play.

“Men have led for 2,000 years, but consecrating women bishops overturns the idea of Christ as the head of the church.”

Mr Holland has been a minister for 16 years and is not part of the Church of England.

He says his church adheres to a conservative and strict understanding of the Bible.

The Church of England was for many years divided on the issue of women bishops and only consecrated its first at York in January of last year.

Archbishop of York John Sentamu, a passionate advocate of women bishops, led the ceremony.

He said afterwards: “It is high time we had women bishops. I have been praying and working for this day.

“In a few years’ time when more and more women will be bishops, I predict we shall be wondering how we ever man- aged without them.”

The York ceremony was disrupted by a clergyman who shouted “not in the Bible”.

Ms Mcfarlane and Ms Bailey Wells will become the ninth and 10th female bishops consecrated by the church and will serve the dioceses of Dorking and Norwich respectively.

In 2012 Ms Mcfarlane said the church had waited long enough