For centuries it has been the preserve of white men, now one particular institution – the Church of England - is being challenged, by one of its own, to change that perception.
As this year’s International Women’s Day hailed those who have made a ‘change’ one particular clergy is standing up to question her own church’s perception in the fight against racism.
Reverend Eve Pitts, the priest at Holy Trinity Church, in Birchfield, in Birmingham, is challenging the very religion she represents.
As, not only a woman, but, especially, a Black woman, she has had struggles with her God, and the very religion she preaches about.
“It takes ‘batty’ people who wants to change the world”, she said, “but I am not going to ‘leave this world’ until I make a change”.
“My struggle with God is in terms of the history of me and my people”, she said.
“As such”, she continues, “If there was one prayer that I could ask from my God then I would want him to get rid of the demon forces of racism.
As Britain’s first Black, female vicar, Reverend Eve says: “I refuse to believe in a God that doesn’t care about the diminishing state of my race”.
When questioned about her position in a perceived ‘all white’ institute that is the Church of England, she insists on being true to herself and her history – as she remains totally committed to her culture and where she comes from.
Each year, on August 1, at her Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Eve Pitts holds a special service to remember all those who were enslaved during the trans-Atlantic slave trade; approaching her pew, each year, in native African attire, with chains around her waist and ankles – as the slave traders did so unceremoniously during one of the most trying, traumatic periods in the history of mankind.
