London, Dec 2 (IANS) The first woman bishop in the Church of England could be selected this week, a media report said.
Candidates for bishop of Southwell and Nottingham are slated for being interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday, BBC reported Tuesday.
Applications from women have been considered for the vacancy.
After the interviews, a preferred candidate and a second preference will be put forward.
No announcements will be made until 2015 as the appointment needs to be approved by the Queen on the recommendation of the prime minister.
In November, the Church of England formally adopted legislation which had passed through parliament in October, allowing women to become bishops.
The first women priests were ordained in 1994, but they had not been able to take on the Church’s most senior roles.
The vacancy in Southwell and Nottingham arose after Bishop Paul Butler left to become the Bishop of Durham in January.
Gloucester, Oxford and Newcastle are among the other dioceses where new bishops will soon be appointed.