[ACNS] A Church of England activist who has served on the General Synod and the Archbishops’ Council and who has been a leading figure in the campaign for the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopacy, Christina Rees, has been invested as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Prince of Wales.

The CBE is an Order of Chivalry that was created by King George V in 1917 and is awarded to
British nationals who have made a significant achievement for the United Kingdom. It was awarded to Christina Rees in recognition of her services to the Church of England. The motto of the order is “For God and the Empire.”

Christina was a member of the General Synod for 25 years, a founding member of the Archbishops’ Council and has served in a voluntary capacity on many of the Church’s national bodies. She was spokesperson for the Movement for the Ordination of Women in the run up to the General Synod vote for women priests in 1992 and Chair of Women and the Church (WATCH) for over 13 years successfully campaigning for women bishops.

Christina contributes to many public debates and lecture series, speaks and preaches widely and has been a writer and broadcaster for over 20 years.

This summer she will take up the lay post of Dean of Little Gidding. With its historic links to Nicholas Ferrar, George Herbert and T S Eliot. Little Gidding will be developed as a centre for the study of Anglican spirituality and the arts.