Voting has been taking place across the Church’s 44 local dioceses over recent months and a majority have now voted decisively to allow women to become bishops for the first time.
The result means that the measures will be sent to the Church of England’s General Synod, next year, for what is expected to be a final showdown between supporters and opponents of reform.
However, traditionalists who cannot accept the ministry of women are calling for an alternative plan containing stronger guarantees that their parishes will be overseen by male bishops.
Last week the diocese of London voted against the reform to allow women to become bishops but on Saturday seven other dioceses backed the draft legislation: Carlisle, Blackburn, Winchester, Norwich, Wakefield, St Albans and Rochester.
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