WATCH is delighted that the first four Diocesan Synods have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new Women in the Episcopate legislation. The four dioceses that voted last Saturday are Chelmsford, Guildford, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and Ripon and Leeds. So far the majorities are 100% of bishops in favour and 94% of both clergy and laity. The full breakdown by diocese are detailed below.

Hilary Cotton, Chair of WATCH, said ‘These very positive results once again indicate the whole-hearted support in the wider Church of England for women to become bishops. We look forward to an enthusiastic endorsement of this wish at General Synod in July.’