Records of Catholic Women's Ordination

The archive consists of:

- minutes of the meetings of Catholic Women's Ordination

- membership material

- letters to Cardinal Basil Hume and other bishops

- press releases by Catholic Women's Ordination

- material relating to Women's Ordination Conference 1995

- material relating to Women's Ordination Worldwide

- photographs

- press cuttings

- printed material and ephemera by Catholic Women's Ordination

- printed material by other organisations

- copies of articles / dissertations by various authors

- audio visual material

The Catholic Women's Ordination (1993-fl 2008) was established on 25 Mar 1993 (Feast of the Annunciation) following the Anglican vote for women priests on 11 Nov 1992. It is an ecumenical movement of men and women aiming to achieve a forum for examining, challenging, and developing the present understanding of priesthood, and to achieve the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church. Activities include: networking as local groups, nationally and internationally; supporting women with a call to priesthood; conferences and discussions; personal and group prayer; advertising through merchandise and producing leaflets; monthly vigils in London and Edinburgh; active involvement with the media and church and government lobbies; participation in ecumenical activities and support systems; producing a newsletter. The Catholic Women's Ordination has groups in London, Leeds, Bristol, Nottingham and Edinburgh. Scattered members can be found from Cornwall to Wales, East Anglia to Northern Scotland. The Catholic Women's Ordination is organised by the National Coordinating Group (NatCog) consisting of members of the Catholic Women's Ordination who are nominated and elected at the annual gatherings. In 2006 a new group was formed in Merseyside, Liverpool. As at 2008 the organisation is still active and is still dedicated to achieving the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church.

The archive has been arranged into 10 series:

5RCW/01 - Minutes

5RCW/02 - Membership

5RCW/03 - Letters to Cardinal Basil Hume and other bishops

5RCW/04 - Press releases by Catholic Women's Ordination

5RCW/05 - Women's Ordination Conference

5RCW/06 - Women's Ordination Worldwide

5RCW/07 - Photographs

5RCW/08 - Press cuttings

5RCW/09 - Printed material

5RCW/10 - Audio visual

This collection is available for research. One file is closed in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

The Women's Library Catalogue

The Women's Library also hold The Women's Library also hold the Records of the Anglican Group for the Ordination of Women to the Historic Ministry of the Church, (5AGO); the Records of the Society for the Ministry of Women in the Church (5SMW); Records of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (6MOW); the Papers of Ursula Roberts Women (7URO), including correspondence from her work for 5AGO; the Papers of Everild Feeny (7EMF); the Papers of Mairin Valdez (7MAV); and the Papers of Victoria Lidiard (7VLI).

The Women's Library Printed Collections holds publications related to Catholic Women's Ordination and some press cuttings relating to women's ordination (c.1919-1950).