The road to a female bishop One small step at a time

1975 Church of England’s General Synod takes first steps to ordaining women with a vote that there is “no fundamental objection”

1985 General Synod votes to allow women to become deacons

1992 General Synod votes to permit women to be ordained in the priesthood

2005 Synod begins process of considering female bishops

2012 Legislation to allow female bishops fails to clear the Synod

2014 Synod votes for female bishops

2015 Rt Rev Libby Lane consecrated as Bishop of Stockport