It has emerged that Bristol's first female Bishop, Rev. Vivienne Faull, is a longstanding ally of the LGBTIQ+ community, having previously criticised the Church’s “dreadful” stance on same-sex relationships.
“It was 24 years ago that Bristol was the first diocese to ordain women as priests, and I want the diocese to continue to show that pioneering courage," she said upon her appointment earlier this week.
She continued: “I look forward to leading a church that shows the love of Christ to everyone, whoever they are.”
Faull has said that she's "found ways" to celebrate same-sex unions without going against the Church of England's legislation.
"The blessing of a gay relationship is not theologically a problem for me personally, but I'm under the discipline of the Church and I keep the rules," she said in a 2014 interview with the Radio Times.
She added: "When people have come to me in the past and said, 'We're looking for a way of celebrating our civil partnership, how shall we do it?', we've found ways of doing it."
Faull said it was "dreadful" that members of the LGBTIQ+ community were being driven away from the Church.
"I'm getting approached by young people of the same gender planning their marriages," she said.
"They understand in their heads what the Church's position is, but they no longer understand in their hearts. It's driving people away and that's dreadful."
Rev. Faull is currently the Dean of York.
