1st Australian woman bishop consecrated

PERTH, Australia, May 23 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 people packed a cathedral in Perth to witness the consecration of Australia's first female Anglican bishop.

Bishops from all over the country attended the ceremony Thursday at St. George's Cathedral, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. They laid their hands on Kay Goldsworthy to admit her to their ranks.

Two dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia -- Sydney and Northwest Australia -- were not represented, The Australian reported. Both do not recognize female bishops.

Goldsworthy was the first woman to be ordained as an Anglican priest in Australia in 1992. During Thursday's ceremony, Archbishop Philip Aspinall, the primate of Australia, called her "a pioneer and a leader as the church has made this arduous journey."

Another woman, Canon Barbara Darling, is preparing for consecration in Melbourne.