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The programme focuses on the vote in the General Synod on 11th November, 1992 when – by the narrowest of margins – the Church decided to take this historic step. Angela Berners-Wilson – who went on to be the first woman ordained a priest in the Church of England – recalls standing outside Church House and joining in the shout of exultation as women realised they would now have a chance to fulfil their vocation; Christina Rees of the Movement for the Ordination of Women talks of the huge sense of affirmation in her faith at the decision; Vivienne Faull – now the Dean of Leicester – remembers how she was hugged by city gents in pin stripes and bowlers. Barry Rogerson – then the Bishop of Bristol and a strong supporter of women priests – also recalls his elation at the decision. But he was quickly aware that problems lay ahead as a lot of people would be hurt by the decision. One of those people was the Conservative MP, Ann Widdecombe, who tells how she was rung by a reporter that evening asking for her reaction to the vote – she announced straight away that she was no longer a member of the Church of England.

We also hear from Lord Carey – Archbishop of Canterbury at the time and the man who announced the decision in Synod.

This Reunion gives all involved the chance to look back with the perspective of the passing years on the long term implications of the ordination of women, and to reflect on the next battle on the horizon – the issue of women bishops.

Producer: Louise Adamson.
Series Producer: David Prest
The Reunion is a Whistledown production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.