Update added below at 9:45 AM.
From:Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
The Queen has approved the nomination of Venerable Rachel Treweek for election as Bishop of Gloucester.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Rachel Treweek, BA, BTh, Archdeacon of Hackney, for election as Bishop of Gloucester in succession to the Right Reverend Michael Francis Perham, MA, whose resignation took effect on the 21 November 2014.
The Venerable Rachel Treweek (nee Montgomery) aged 52, studied at Reading University and trained for the ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. She served her first curacy at Saint George and All Saints, Tufnell Park in the Diocese of London from 1994 to 1997 and was Associate Vicar from 1997 to 1999.
From 1999 to 2006 she was Vicar at Saint James the Less, Bethnal Green and Continuing Ministerial Education Officer for the Stepney Episcopal Area. From 2006 to 2011 she was Archdeacon of Northolt in the Diocese of London. Since 2011 she has been Archdeacon of Hackney. In 2013 she was elected as Participant Observer in the House of Bishops for the South East Region.
Rachel is married to Guy, Priest-in-Charge of two parishes in the City of London.
Her interests include conflict transformation, walking and canoeing.
Update. Church Times:
During a press conference, she repeatedly drew on her experience in this field: “All people are beautiful, and throughout my time as a speech and language therapist I have learned so much from children who are severely disabled and them being as valued as everyone else.”
Archdeacon Treweek has been a long-time champion of women’s ministry, making regular speeches during legislative debates in the General Synod, which she joined in 2010. She is also currently an adviser to the House of Bishops working group on sexuality.
…
Greetings came in from around the world. The Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Dr Desmond Tutu, said: “I’m thrilled for you, dear Rachel, and I’m thrilled for the Diocese of Gloucester, for the Church of England, for the Church of God, and for all of us. Yippee.”
…
The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, said: “As Richard of Gloucester is reinterred, Rachel of Gloucester is revealed. As well as operating with great effectiveness from North West to East London, Rachel has been central to the story of growth in this diocese.
Under the provisions of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act, Treweek will become a member of the House of Lords.
Thinking Anglicans has a roundup of news reports and press releases.
. @VenRachel “If I embrace diversity I have to be able to accept that #conflict will be a part of my life” pic.twitter.com/qIf7jDRjcG
— St Ethelburga’s (@StEthelburgas) January 8, 2014
Posted by John B. Chilton
Photo: Gloucester Diocese