More than a third of dioceses in the Church of England have now voted in support of women bishops, with even the most traditionalist voting to admit women to the episcopate.
Dioceses such as Gibraltar in Europe and Sheffield are among those that have voted in favour despite fears that, as dioceses with a long history of traditionalist Anglo-Catholicism, they would fail to support the legislation.
According to figures released by Women and the Church, the group campaigning for women bishops, 91 per cent of bishops, 81 per cent of clergy and 83 per cent of laity overall have backed women bishops.
Leicester diocese was the latest to vote for the draft legislation at its synod last Wednesday and Sheffield became the fifteenth when it