Liz and Andrew Barr: Jobs for the boys? Women who became priests

By MARGIE THOMSON

Of interest to anyone concerned with matters of faith and church politics, this collection of women's oral histories tells the stories of what it has been like on the inside of the Church of England for those who have campaigned for change, often against formidable odds.

The short answer is that it has often been extremely unpleasant and frustrating, although wherever there was opposition there was always tremendous support for the women who represented a different future for the staid church.

It is partly about their struggle to be ordained, often after years of committed service to the church - it was only in 1992 that women won the right to be ordained as priests in the Church of England - but also about the changes women such as these are making to the face of the church.

Engaging, and inspirational in that it reflects the lives of those who have dared to be idealistic and to act on their beliefs.

Hodder and Stoughton

$29.95