The Controversial Women

Organised by : The Novium Museum

Wearing a dog collar and climbing into a taxi more then 20 years ago, the driver asked, Are you one of those controversial women? Vanessa Baron had never thought of herself as a pioneer or controversial! This talk will reflect on Vanessas 30 years of experience as one of the first women priests in the Church of England and the first female residentiary canon at Chichester Cathedral; negotiating opportunities, theological differences, welcome and occasional antagonism.

Vanessa trained first as a deaconess and was ordained deacon and the priest in the first cohorts to women to be ordained in the Church of England. She began her working life as a nurse, specialising in palliative care. She has degrees in philosophy, theology and a post graduate degree in medieval history.

The museum will be open from 6pm for those wanting to visit the ChichestHER exhibition beforehand.

Free, booking essential.