Female candidate loses bid to become Scottish Church's first woman bishop

The Rev Canon Dr Alison Peden has lost in her bid to become the Episcopal Church of Scotland's first female bishop.

Dr Peden, Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Stirling, was one of three candidates for the new Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway. The Very Rev Gregor Duncan, Rector of St Ninian’s Church, Pollokshields, was voted to the office instead.

The vote was made by an electoral synod made up of clergy and lay church members.

Dr Duncan said: “I am deeply honoured to be given this responsibility by the electors of the Diocese and am committed wholly to this new office.”

The other unsuccessful candidate was the Venerable Dr John Applegate, Course Principal of the Southern North West Training Partnership in the Anglican Diocese of Manchester.

The Church passed a motion in 2003 allowing women bishops, but is yet to consecrate its first female clergy to the office of bishop.

Dr Duncan will succeed the Rt Rev Dr Idris Jones, who retired as Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway last year after 11 years in office.

He was welcomed to his new role by Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Dr David Chillingworth: “I am delighted to welcome Dean Gregor Duncan as the next Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway.

"He has faithfully served the Scottish Episcopal Church and the clergy and people of Glasgow and Galloway for many years.

"He is widely respected and admired for his faithful pastoral care and the strength of his spirituality. I am delighted that he has now been chosen by the electoral synod to serve as bishop of this diocese.”