The Society (Church of England)

The Society, more fully The Society under the patronage of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda and formerly known as The Society of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda, is an independent association of Church of England clergy and lay people which defines itself as "an ecclesial body, led by a Council of Bishops" which rejects the ordination of women. It is supported by Forward in Faith and administered by its director.^[1]

The Society's stated purposes are:

to promote and maintain catholic teaching and practice within the Church of England

to provide episcopal oversight to which churches, institutions and individuals will freely submit themselves

to guarantee a ministry in the historic apostolic succession in which they can have confidence

History

Plans for creation of The Society were announced on 24 September 2010, by a group of bishops of the Church of England who did not ordain women to the priesthood. This was in preparation for the new situation that would arise following the ordination of women to the episcopate. Its council of bishops began to meet regularly in 2013.^[2] In 2014, its members appointed a bishop's representative for each diocese of the Church of England.^[2]^[3] Registration began in 2014 of male transitional or permanent deacons and female permanent deacons as "Deacons of The Society" and male priests as "Priests of The Society".^[4]

Council of bishops

The Society's council of bishops are Church of England bishops. The following bishops are currently on the council:^[2]

Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham (Chairman)
Stephen Race, Bishop of Beverley
Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn
Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester
Will Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes
Paul Thomas, Bishop of Oswestry
Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough
Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield

Jonathan Goodall, former Bishop of Ebbsfleet joined the Roman Catholic Church in 2021. Mark Sowerby, former Bishop of Horsham, was previously a member of The Society and its council of bishops. In June 2015, he announced that he had changed his views on the ordination of women and resigned from the council.^[5]^[6]