THIS book is an enjoyable account of Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin’s ministry, from Jamaica to Dover. In between, we accompany her to London to train for the Church Army, to Jamaica again, to the Midlands for ordination, to Hackney for parish ministry, to the House of Commons to be Chaplain, and finally to Canterbury to be Bishop of Dover.
It is an exhilarating journey. A poster that she has long embraced says “Do not go where the path leads. Go where there is no path and leave a trail.” That’s just what she’s done.
Three themes stand out. First is the author’s love of Jamaica, with its warmth and vibrancy, as well as many important figures from her disrupted early life. Her older sister Shirley and her surrogate parents gave her the stability she needed as she developed the resilience and determination that would serve her well in later life.
The second theme is the discrimination that, as a black woman priest, Hudson-Wilkin has experienced in both overt and covert forms (on her appointment to a curacy at St Matthew’s, Wolverhampton, the PCC resigned en bloc). The stories of prejudice are tragic to read, but Rose was capable of bold rejoinders when necessary and kept going regardless, giving as good as she got. Her beloved husband, Ken, gets much credit for his constant support.
AUTHOR’S PHOTOBaby Rose with her mother and sisters, in a photo from the book under review
The third theme is surprise. Hudson-Wilkin is aware of her gifts, but is often taken by surprise when different opportunities come her way, such as to be the first ever woman Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, or to go to dinner and stay overnight in Windsor Castle. She led the prayers at the Sussexes’ wedding and played a significant part in the Coronation. As well as royalty, the cast list in Hudson-Wilkin’s life is impressive, including Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, and — best of all — Lionel Richie. At the back of it all is the question: “How did this happen to a girl from Montego Bay?”
A longer autobiography could have given more details about what ministry actually looked like in, for example, 16 years of deep ministry in Hackney. The interesting ministry that we read most about is with Members and employees in the Houses of Parliament. Again, we catch glimpses, but get no details of fascinating speaking engagements.
More space might also have allowed a wider context to be given to this vibrant and sometimes confrontational ministry. In the past few decades, very significant changes have been going on in both the Church of England and the culture in which we witness and serve. There is rightly a focus on discrimination and justice, and the last few pages of the book disclose the writer’s appalling personal experience of sexual abuse; but the Church is operating in a whole new social context, and some wider reflection on those changes would have been welcome.
Nevertheless, for the many people who only know Hudson-Wilkin through appearances in the media, here is a lively account of the person behind the generous smile.
The Rt Revd John Pritchard is a former Bishop of Oxford.
The Girl from Montego Bay: The autobiography of Britain’s first black woman bishop
Rose Hudson-Wilkin
SPCK £19.99
(978-0-281-08960-4)
Church Times Bookshop £15.99