Woman vicar ruled out by church

The search is on for a new vicar in a Midland village - but the Vicar of Dibley need not apply.

Church leaders have decided a woman minster could drive worshippers away – and say the job must go to a man again this time.

Members of the Parochial Church Council committee of St Mary the Virgin Church in Enville, near Stourbridge, say they do not want people leaving the church because they cannot accept women as ordained ministers.

And so they are determined not to break with traditional rules approved by the 12-strong committee.

With just nine members of the congregation attending the 11am service yesterday and around seven churchgoers at the earlier 8am service, the committee is keen to hold on to its faithful few.

Former vicar, the Rev Eric Davies, retired early last month after coming to the end of his seven-year contract.

And former rector of Kinver and Enville, 94-year-old the Rev Andrew Collins, has been helping out by celebrating services over the Christmas period but has now fallen ill.

Current rector, the Rev David Blackburn, aged 63, who is based at Kinver, said: “We rely on Andrew a lot at Enville but we hope we won’t have to do it for very long.

“The committee had a discussion many years ago about whether they would accept a female ministry and they decided they wouldn’t.

“We have to respect their view. There hasn’t been any disagreement. It’s been done very amicably.

“Now is not the right time to make a major and radical move.

“There are people who would welcome a female vicar but there are those who would leave and we don’t want people to do that.”

Churchwarden Ann Rowley, aged 68, who is a member of the PCC, supports the decision not to appoint a female vicar.

She said: “We hope to goodness we can get a vicar fairly soon.

“The vacancy was advertised at the beginning of December. We have taken a vote on the PCC that a woman cannot take the eucharist.”

Fellow churchwarden Stephen Morley, aged 69, who also sits on the PCC, said the church had never had a female vicar.

He said: “It wasn’t worth changing the rules for a new set up.

“It isn’t a male thing. Often the women feel stronger than the men.” Choir singer Maggie Talbot, aged 68, is not convinced the job has to go to a man.

She said: “Years ago I would have said it has to be a man but I think I’m changing my mind.

“As long as we can get the right person that’s all that matters.

“We need a person that’s used to country living as Enville is still a bit feudal and owned by the estate.”

Parishioner Anne Stokes, aged 65, who lives in Kinver but has been attending services at St Mary’s for the past 20 years, said the church was in serious need of a vicar.

Regular parishioners at the church include South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack, who is also said to be strongly opposed to a female vicar, and District Council leader Councillor Brian Edwards.

Sir Patrick Cormack has been the churchwarden at Enville for the past 17 years and helped at the service last night.

He said: “We hope to find somebody in the course of the next six months.

“There are a lot of parishes in the Church of England which opt to have a male priest.

“Enville is one of these and always has been. At the moment we are looking for a man.”

He added the vote for a male vicar had been unanimous and said there were more women than men on the committee.

Director of communications for the Diocese of Lichfield, Gavin Drake, said parishes were entitled to make resolutions not to allow a woman to be in charge under Church of England protocol.

He said: “Although women priests are widely accepted there are still a number of parishes who are unable to accept them.

“The Church of England makes provision for that and it is a theological issue not a discrimination issue.”