The Church of England’s first-ever Black female bishop has reflected on why the diverse communities within the Midlands played such a pivotal role in where she is today.
The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, 60, (see photo) was appointed the Bishop of Dover in June 2019, in a groundbreaking move that stamped her place in the history books as the first Black woman to hold the post in Britain.
While you may have spotted her leading the prayers for Prince Harry and Meghan’s Royal Wedding, her career portfolio far exceeds this achievement. The pioneer is also known for her role as chaplain for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and becoming the first woman and Black person to serve as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The mum-of-three lived in the Black Country for a spell and raised her family here as she built the foundations of her historic career.
The Bishop told Black Country Live: “We moved to live in the West Midlands in the late 1980s where we settled first in Wolverhampton and later in West Bromwich. My children were babies then and indeed started their education in Wolverhampton. Having my children grow up in a diverse and vibrant community was very important to me.
“Not only was the community diverse but it meant that as a family we were able to access food and drink that connected with my Caribbean roots. All of this is important as it provided meaning and interpretation of all the experiences that we were exposed to.”
Born and raised in Jamaica, Rt Rev Hudson-Wilkin went to school at Montego Bay High School for Girls and continued her education in the UK at Birmingham University.
After training with the Church Army she was commissioned in 1982 as an evangelist.
Kickstarting her profession, Rose trained for ordination at Queens Theological College in Birmingham and landed her first role as a deacon in 1991.
Three years later she became a priest and served at St Matthew’s Church, Willenhall Road, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
She added: “The Midlands will always carry a special place in mine and my family’s life as this is the place where my ordained ministry began. What a journey it has led me on. I have such fond memories of the Midlands and always look forward to rekindling old friendships at different times in the year.”
Throughout her inspiring journey, as a Black woman, Rose was forced to navigate through barrages of discrimination and prejudice.
Reflecting on this she told the Church Army : “I have faced many obstacles in my life, especially racism and sexism. I’ve encountered a lot of people along my way who couldn’t see past a Black face. Every time this happened, I would think to myself, ‘It’s not my problem, it’s their problem, it’s their own short-sightedness.’
“I don’t see any walls in life that are impregnable. As it says in John 1:12: ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.’”