In the twentieth century the Anglo Catholic movement split over the issue of the Ordination of women with many arguing that the Church of England, as one part of the Catholic Church, did not have the authority to take this step unilaterally.
Following the decision of the Church of England to ordain women to the episcopate, the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda was born as an ecclesial body under a Council of Bishops that unites parishes who maintain the tradition whilst also committed to remaining in the Church of England.
The church community at St Stephen’s includes those with a range of views on this topic and all find a home and a welcome here. As a sign of our commitment to the continued witness of the Anglo Catholic movement in the Church of England and our place within it we are one of the over 400 member parishes of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda. We are part of a network of parishes across the Dioceses of London and Southwark who do not receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests cared for by the Bishop of Fulham.