← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Ed Toner
Thread ID: 7174 | Posts: 6 | Started: 2003-06-06
2003-06-06 15:58 | User Profile
Church of England Vicar's Sex Change
Sex-change vicar tells how his/her prayers have been answered
[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2000/11/29/nvic29.xml]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...1/29/nvic29.xml[/url] By Victoria Combe, Religion Correspondent (Filed: 29/11/2000)
THE vicar formerly known as the Rev Peter James Stone returned to work yesterday as a woman called Carol Ann after a sex change with the blessing of the Church of England.
'Thrilled': Rev James Stone [left] and, after the sex change, as Rev Carol Stone
Wearing a navy pencil skirt, floral scarf and black court shoes, the Rev Carol Stone held a press conference in Swindon to explain how "thrilled" she was with the operation.
The suffragan Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Rev Michael Doe, hosted the extraordinary conference in his drawing room. The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Rev Barry Rogerson, sent a message of apology for not being able to attend because he was at a World Council of Churches meeting.
It was the first time Miss Stone, 46, had appeared in public since she was given leave by Bishop Rogerson to take three months off to undergo "gender redesignation".
On Sunday she will deliver her first sermon as Carol Stone at St Philip's, Upper Stratton, Swindon, where she has been vicar since 1996. All but four of the 80-strong congregation agreed to welcome their priest back as a woman.
Sitting on one of the bishop's dining chairs, Miss Stone, who was ordained in 1979, said she had never had a doubt about returning to the ministry. "I have only had two vocations in life," she said. "One was to be a priest and one was to be a woman.
"Ever since I can remember, my last prayer at night has been that I would wake up a girl. Even at the age of four I prayed this. I could not understand why at that age. It was a prayer that came from the heart." More recently "I was a priest weighed down by the baggage of a lifetime's personal suffering. Now that has gone. I am thrilled to be me."
She admitted that she was still "convalescing" from ...................
2003-06-06 17:07 | User Profile
**'Thrilled': Rev James Stone [left] and, after the sex change, as Rev Carol Stone **
This is good. The parishioners have not lost their Stones. Unlike the Reverend...
2003-06-06 17:21 | User Profile
People who get sex changes never end up as happy as they thought they would be. I pitty this poor wretch.
2003-06-06 17:42 | User Profile
Hey, give the guy some credit. He's not a complete prick, you know - at least, not since the operation.
2003-06-06 19:13 | User Profile
Vicar in a Tutu by The Smiths
I was minding my business Lifting some lead off A roof of a Holy Name church It was worthwhile living a laughable life When I set my eyes on a blistering sight Of a vicar in a tu-tu He's not strange He just wants to live his life this way
A scanty bit of a thing With a decorative ring That wouldn't cover the head of a child As Rose collects the money in a cannister Who comes sliding down the bannister But a vicar in a tu-tu He's not strange He just wants to live his life this way
The monkish monsignor With his head full of plaster Said : " My man, get your vile soul dry-cleaned" As Rose collects the money in a cannister As natural as rain He dances again and again and again And a vicar in a tu-tu He's not strange He just wants to live his life this way
The next day in the pulpit With freedom and ease Combatting ignorance, dust and disease As Rose collects the money in a cannister As natural as rain He dances again My garden in a vicar of a tu-tu He's not strange He just wants to live his life this way
In a vicar of a tu-tu He's not strange He just wants to live his life this way
And I am a living sign
2003-06-06 19:50 | User Profile
Tex, excellent post. Morrissey proves prophetic!
[img]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2000/11/29/nvic29.jpeg[/img] Oh, has the world changed, or have I changed ? Oh has the world changed, or have I changed ? --"The Queen Is Dead" by The Smiths