She will retain her role as the bishop of New Westminster, which covers the Greater Vancouver area, while also assuming responsibility for the internal Canadian province in her capacity as the new Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon.

This is one of four provinces that make up the Anglican Church in the country.

“This vote was historic not only because the first women was elected Archbishop [but] it was also the first election held entirely by electronic means,” the report quoted a church spokesman as saying.

“I’m thrilled and deeply grateful for the support of so many in this process,” said Archbishop Skelton, who replaces John Privett with immediate effect. He stepped down in April.

“Succeeding [him] is a humbling task,” she said. “My hope and conviction is that we’re now embarking on a time of increasing cooperation and purpose in the life of our province.”

The news comes after Kay Goldsworthy was elected Archbishop of Perth in the Anglican Church of Australia earlier in 2018.

Neither woman will serve as a primate.

To date only one woman has received this honor, which was bestowed on Katharine Jefferts Schori when she was elected as the Presiding Bishop of the US-based Episcopal Church in 2006, a role she held until 2015.

Building on her four years’ experience as a bishop, Archbishop Skelton will be responsible for five additional dioceses.

These are Yukon, three dioceses in British Columbia — Caledonia, the Territory of the People, and Kootenay — and Vancouver Island and the coastal islands.

Source: international.la-croix.com