The Anglican church has appointed its first female bishop in Australia, who will take charge of a NSW diocese at the centre of a Royal Commission into child sex abuse.
The Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil has been elected unanimously as the 11th Bishop of the Anglican diocese of Grafton.
The Sunday night announcement comes a day before the Anglican church and the Grafton diocese in particular is due to appear before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which will open in Sydney on Monday.
Dr Macneil replaces Keith Slater.
He resigned in May this year, apologising for his failings in handling complaints about sexual abuse and brutal beatings that took place at the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore, which was run by the Grafton diocese of the Anglican church.
Mr Slater is expected to be called before the Royal Commission.
The inquiry will also look at the diocese's handling of a group compensation claim brought by victims of abuse.
Dr Macneil said she was surprised and humbled by her appointment.
"The Diocesan Appointment Board is keen to have a bishop with a heart for mission in the 21st century, a respect for the diversity of Anglicanism and with administrative experience, all of which are part of my story," she said in a statement.
Dr Macneil was previously the Dean of Adelaide and archdeacon in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn.
She will leave her role as a senior associate priest at Holy Covenant in Jamison, ACT to take charge of the Grafton diocese.
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