Eileen Ordination

 Eileen Ordained 1991.  I don't know the date.

St Johns Cathedral Brisbane.

Somewhere I have some 8mm (analogue video) footage but I do not know where.  I thought the tapes were in Toowoomba but when we cleaned out the house after mum's death, I could not find them.   Because this was the first batch of women priests to be ordained, the TV stations all had camera crews to record the event.  I recall being impressed that the priest in charge spoke to the TV crews and effectively negotiated a deal.  In response to them not wandering around during the service, they would all set up stage right and that when the priests stood in a circle and did the laying on of hands, the circle would have a opening so the TV crews could get a good shot.  Everyone happy.

10-FEB-2021 Lewis Wrote:

Eileen Thomson wrote in early 2000s, “The Rector (David Thomas) said, ‘Have you thought about ordination to the Diaconate?’ I replied, ‘certainly, but sadly that is for the next generation.’ He responded, ‘Don’t you be too sure.’”

She continued, “The lights really did flash around my head as my longing and various careers came together, followed by feeling calmly settled. The Rector wrote to the Master of Ordinands that night.”

The journey had been a long and winding road; indeed for much of Eileen’s life it was neither sealed nor more than a bush track. The beginnings were traditional; at Kambala and Meriden schools and St Anne’s Strathfield she was fascinated by the prayer book and Bible. Her mother and she referred often to ancestors in ministry including William Tindale and a Bishop Farrar, both martyred.

Eileen learned daily prayer from childhood; simple words thanking God for family, the Lord’s Prayer and reflection on scripture. She took very seriously the saying of the office.

With women barred from ordination, on leaving school in 1944 the way forward was the caring professions of education and social work. She completed a B.A. at Sydney University, a TH.L at the Australian College of Theology and further qualifications at Oxford and William Temple College/Cambridge. In her words, “To change the world” she needed to be part of it. Energetic work in Britain and Australia led her to headmistress level.

She mused to an Archbishop [in later years about] the time that as headmistress responsible for the life of the school, “one retired priest was needed  just to celebrate the Friday Eucharist!”. A broad hint.

In 1962 she married stockman / economist Edgar Thomson. Soon, with four boys under five, faith assumed different dimensions. The road to faith was mostly stopping children crawling under pews at church to entertain the clergyman. Nevertheless her writings at the time demonstrate a strong continuing desire for leadership in preference to the stifling second fiddle life expected of 1970s housewives.

The catalyst for a quickening of the tempo was the sudden death of Edgar in 1976. She moved the family to his home town of Toowoomba for education and commenced as the Senior Social Worker at Baillie Henderson psychiatric hospital, a period she described “as nearest to ‘highways and hedges”.

With the Church rediscovering and rebuilding the diaconate including embracing women, entering holy orders was a natural progression. With the roadway clear, recognised and understood by the Church hierarchy Eileen became first a deacon before being ordained  priest in 1991.

Various roles followed; as Director building up Anglicare Western Region, serving on numerous Government boards, chaplaincy at University of Southern Queensland and working with diverse good groups. At a parish level there came the rota of parish life.

In essence, eschewing noisy debate Eileen opted for a sacramental Church, scholarship, history and tradition linking. Whether in a church or anywhere else she believed clergy were there to give absolution, celebrate the Eucharist and deliver the message. This was Eileen absolutely!