[attach id=352112 size="medium" align="left"]Reverend Kat Campion-Spall of St Mary's church in Merton weeps after the Synod session which approved the consecration of women bishops, in York yesterday. Photo: Reuters[/attach]

The Church of England voted yesterday to allow women to become bishops, a historic decision which overturns centuries of tradition in a Church that has been deeply divided over the issue.

Two years ago, a similar proposal failed narrowly due to opposition from traditionalist lay members, to the dismay of modernisers, the Church hierarchy and politicians.

But after a five-hour debate yesterday, the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, voted overwhelmingly in favour of an amended plan at its meeting in the northern English city of York.

“Today is the completion of what was begun over 20 years ago with the ordination of women as priests. I am delighted with today’s result,” said Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the world’s 80 million Anglicans. The issue over women bishops has caused internal division since the Synod approved female priests in 1992.

It has pitted reformers, keen to project a more modern image of the Church as it struggles with falling congregations in many increasingly secular countries, against a conservative minority which says the change contradicts the Bible.

Women serve as bishops in the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand but Anglican churches in many developing countries do not ordain them as priests.

Welby has said the first female bishop could be named early next year.

“This is a watershed moment for the Church of England and a huge step forward in making our society fairer,” Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.