With the announcement of a female bishop possible before the end of the year, we look at the women clergy in the Church of England who might gain a mitre.  The Church of England has two kinds of bishop – suffragan (or assistant) and diocesan (or senior). A woman might become a suffragan bishop early next year, with her appointment announced before the end of this one. But a woman cannot be placed on the shortlist for a diocesan see until the legislative process is completed at the next synod in November, thus delaying such an appointment until next summer. The first dioceses where a woman could be appointed as bishop are Gloucester and Oxford. There are about 20 senior women who could be in line to be the first woman bishop. Although a third of the 11,375 Church of England cle