Carol Stone

For the actress, see Carol Montgomery Stone.
The Rev Carol Stone
Religion Christianity (Anglicanism)
Personal
Born Peter Stone
Died 27 December 2014 (aged 60)
Religious career
Ordination 1978 (deacon)
1979 (priest)
Post Chaplain
Vicar

Carol Stone was a Church of England priest and was the first to transition from male to female.[1] She was ordained in 1978 as a male priest. She underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2000, and continued her ministry as a female priest.[2]

Religious life

Stone was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1978 and as priest in 1979.[2][3] She served her curacy in Bradford-on-Avon.[4] She then served as chaplain and head of religious studies at Dauntsey's School, an independent school in West Lavington, Wiltshire.[1] In 1996, she was appointed vicar of St Philip's Church, Upper Stratton, Swindon.[2]

In June 2000, it was announced that she would be taking a short break from her parish work to undergo sex reassignment surgery.[3] She had the support of her bishop, the Rt Rev Barry Rogerson, who stated:[5]

“ The Rev Peter Stone has been under medical supervision for some time and has been diagnosed by two psychiatric practitioners as having a condition for which the appropriate medical treatment is Gender Redesignation.
There are no ethical or ecclesiastical legal reasons why the Rev Carol Stone should not continue in ministry in the Church of England.		 ”

In November 2000, she returned to St Philip's and parish ministry.[2] During her first Sunday service since returning, one woman shouted negative comments at her before being removed from the church by other church goers: a police officer had attended the service as a precautionary measure but did not have to become involved.[6] Stone was given a standing ovation at the end of the service by the remaining members of the congregation.[4] Four out of eighty members of the congregation left the church because of her transition; the rest 'agreed to welcome their priest back as a woman'.[3]

In 2006, she became a governor of Swindon College having completed a course in photography there.[7] In December 2006, she was appointed priest-in-charge of St Peter's Church, Penhill, Swindon, in addition to her role as vicar of St Philip's.[8]

Personal life

Stone had been twice married and divorced:[5] First to Margaret, from 1976 to 1983, and secondly to Jo-Anne, an American.[3] She had one child from her first marriage, a daughter, who was 18 at the time of her transition in 2000.[3][5]

Stone died on 27 December 2014 from pancreatic cancer.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "First serving sex-change vicar Carol Stone dies". BBC News. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Sex change vicar returns to parish". BBC News. 28 November 2000. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Combe, Victoria (29 November 2000). "Sex-change vicar tells how her prayers have been answered". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sex-change vicar back in pulpit". BBC News. 3 December 2000. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Vicar plans sex change". BBC News. 19 June 2000. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Cork, Tristan (31 December 2014). "Swindon vicar Carol Stone, first Church of England priest to undergo sex change, dies at 60". Western Daily Express. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Governors of Swindon College". Swindon College. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Home Page". St Philip's, Upper Stratton and St Peter's, Penhill Swindon. Retrieved 31 December 2014.