News

First female priest appointed to a royal peculiar church

(6 October 2005)

Rev Canon Jane Hedges has become the first female priest to be appointed in a royal peculiar church.

Royal peculiars are churches which are under the authority of the sovereign rather than the usual jurisdiction of a bishop. Westminister Abbey, where she takes the residentiary canonry, is the best-known, along with St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and the Chapel Royal.

Ms Hedges who succeeds the Ven David Hutt, was educated at Durham University and Cranmer Hall, Durham. From 1993 to 2001 she was canon pastor at Portsmouth Cathedral. Since 2001 she has been team rector in the Honiton ministry and rural dean of Honiton since 2002.

Source: The Guardian (Main edition) Friday 23 September http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1576631,00.html