New woman: a Dean for Women's Ministry has been appointed in the diocese of Chichester, where none of the bishops will ordain women priests, writes Madeleine Davies. Canon Julia Peaty, Rural Dean of East Grinstead and NS Assistant Curate of St Swithun's, East Grinstead, will be licensed in Chichester Cathedral at evensong on Sunday. The post is newly created.

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said on Monday: "Canon Julia's new post will give her by right a place at the Bishop's staff meeting and on the Bishop's Council, together with a clear description of her role in ensuring that women in ordained and lay ministry are recognised, valued, and increased in number."

On Tuesday, Canon Peaty said that she hoped that the post would encourage more women to consider serving in the diocese, which had suffered from the reputation that women were not supported in ministry. She said that Bishop Warner had lived up to his pledge at his appointment to build up "trust and respect" with women colleagues (News, 4 May).