|PIC1|The Episcopal Church in the USA has made the shock move of electing its first woman primate during its General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday night.

There were gasps of delight as the 52-year-old Bishop of Nevada the Rt Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori was announced as the successor to current Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold when a majority was achieved after four hours on the fifth vote, reports The Guardian.

Speaking on her election to the more than 1,000 representatives present, Bishop Schori said: “It is a great honour and privilege ... I am awed, honoured and deeply privileged to have been elected."

Presiding Bishop Griswold welcomed Bishop Schori, the Bishop of Nevada for just five years and ordained only a decade ago, on her election.

“I am profoundly grateful to the House of Bishops for the prayerful and careful way in which they set about to discern who would best serve the church as its 26th Presiding Bishop and carry forward Christ's ministry of reconciliation.

"The decision today is the fruit of the witness and ministry of women bishops, priests, and deacons in the life of our church.

|TOP|"Bishop Jefferts Schori is a person gifted in mind, heart and spirit, and I am fully confident that the Church and the Communion will be blessed by her ministry in the years ahead."

The election is likely to spark yet more controversy within ECUSA and also throughout numerous provinces in the Anglican Communion which still do not accept women as bishops or as priests.

British-born conservative the Rev Martyn Minns has been particularly outspoken on his church’s decision to support homosexual clergy, an issue already tearing the Anglican Communion apart.

He said in a statement: “It is sad. She will bring into sharp relief the difference between being an Episcopalian and being an Anglican. It is not clear how she can do anything other than lead the Episcopal Church in walking apart from the rest of the communion. She has my prayers."

In the vote, Bishop Schori beat off six male bishops and led on every ballot of the 188 US bishops sequestered in private to vote at a nearby church.

One, the Rev Teri Gilmore of Fulsom, north California, said: "I am thrilled. She was heads above the other candidates, but I never dreamed it would actually happen. It's great for women."

The Rev Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said: "Obviously I am delighted and we wish her God's blessing."