The Diocese of The Murray is a traditionalist Anglo-Catholic diocese which formerly did not ordain women to the priesthood.[1] It was the last diocese in the Anglican Church of Australia to admit women to the diaconate, ordaining Margaret Holt as deacon in April 2017.[2] In June 2023 its synod voted to allow the ordination of women as priests.[3][4]
Ross Davies relinquished the position of bishop in September 2010 and was received into the Roman Catholic Church. John Ford, the Bishop suffragan of Plymouth in the Church of England's Diocese of Exeter, was installed as the new bishop on 6 December 2013.[5] He retired in May 2019 and Keith Dalby was elected as his successor. Dalby and synod members worked towards the decision to allow the ordination of women as priests.[3][6]
On 12 August 2023 three women deacons, along with Rodney Fopp, were ordained by Dalby to the priesthood at Christ the King Anglican Church, Mt Barker. Carol Cornwall became assistant curate of Southern Suburbs, Margaret Holt assistant curate of Strathalbyn and Alison Dutton assistant curate of The South Coast.[7]
^Zwartz, Barney (9 March 2010). "At cross purposes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2016.