Iranian-born refugee could become the first woman to head the Church of England
An Iranian-born refugee could become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani – who arrived in the UK when she was 13 – last night emerged as an early frontrunner to succeed Justin Welby in the role.
Currently the Bishop of Chelmsford, bookies Ladbrokes and Star Sports have Dr Francis-Dehqani as the early favourite to become the first woman in the post in its 1,428-year history.
She would become the 106th spiritual leader of the Church of England.
Her Christian family fled Iran after they were persecuted amid the imposition of strict Islamic rule in the 1970s.
Dr Francis-Dehqani was ordained in 1999 and served as Bishop of Loughborough from 2017 to 2021 before taking up her current post four years ago.
An outspoken opponent of successive governments' immigration policy, she is one of five women among the bookies' favourites to become the leader of the Church.
Last week, she criticised Keir Starmer's controversial 'island of strangers' immigration speech, saying: 'In the churches and different communities I am part of, we are not an 'island of strangers'.
'Migrants are not strangers but friends who fully participate and contribute as we worship, serve and live life together.'
The next Archbishop of Canterbury is expected to be appointed by the autumn.
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