CR spoke with author Michele Guinness

I don't know that I'll ever write another novel. I'm writing something that's faction at the moment: I've got some wonderful letters that were written, all right from the turn of the 19th century right through to the 1960s and I'm making up the story round them, so that's a bit different. But I think that I just needed to have a go. And I'm absolutely thrilled when people like yourself are saying they're enjoying it. It's a total miracle to me, because I really do feel as if my hand was held while I tapped in every word.

Emily: So overall have you had a good reaction from the book?

Michele: Yes I have! I've had an amazing reaction! I'm amazed that people are buying it, because it's hardback. And you know, you can go to the library and get it and, if you can, get it cheaper: if you're clever and you hunt around you can get it deducted. I'm just amazed that people are going and buying it and that they are Facebooking and Tweeting and saying that they're enjoying it. That to me makes every agony so worthwhile.

Emily: At the moment in the UK we don't have any women bishops. Are you in favour of having women bishops one day and do you also hope to see a female Archbishop of Canterbury?

Michele: Yes, I am. It's taken me a long time to get this far: when we were at theological college nearly 30 years ago, I was very feminist and very much in favour of women leaders in the church and fought quite hard - well, when I say fought quite hard: I supported women a great deal insofar as I was able. I think over the years my theology has come in line with my rational thinking. I kind of thought how could God make these women so gifted and their not be leaders? Whereas now I'm thinking from my studies in Scripture and I think I am now a convinced person who does believe in women leadership. However I do also think that there's something about guys, with their testosterone, that gives them the sort of drive that will make them the majority in the leadership seat. I think we women too have other priorities: we put family, relationships and community first: for neighbours in need you don't tend to see a man rushing round with an apple crumble. I think therefore that we are different - but I do think some women are very definitely wired to take key leadership roles and I do pray they'll feel they don't have to become men: that they can be women; they can put relationships first, they can be honest and vulnerable and collaborative with colleagues and maybe do things slightly differently. They may not have this alpha-male drive and energy, but still have the charisma and vision to do what's necessary. I do foresee a time when the Church is going to be in dire straits. We're becoming an increasingly secular country: I can see persecution coming and I do think we need voices - and some of those voices will be women.

Emily: So for those who aren't really aware of the Church's position when it comes to women leaders, would you mind just telling us a little bit about what the Church of England's viewpoint is?

Michele: In 1992, the Church of England decided that women could be ordained and could become fully fledged vicars and archdeacons even, but that was as high as they could rise. They couldn't become bishops or archbishops. Since then there's been a lot of discussion around that being a very strange anomaly: how can you go halfway and not the rest of the way? But there is division of opinion: a number of evangelicals and a number of High Church people, Anglo-Catholics, the Anglo-Catholics, primarily because there is a tradition of male leadership and because Christ was male; the evangelicals, because there is a verse in the New Testament that says "I don't permit a woman to have authority over a man": because of those things would find it very difficult if a woman was in a very senior leadership position. So it's a case at the moment of working out how we can honour and respect people who've got those views and at the same time go ahead with what is obvious really and what the majority in the Church would like. I say the majority because all the dioceses have had a vote and, bar one, I think they've all come back saying, "Yes please, that's what we want". But at the same time we have to acknowledge there are those who disagree with us - and how do we enable them to function in that kind of a Church because we don't want to lose them either? So that's what all the discussions are about at the moment.

Emily: So you feel that the glass ceiling may even be beginning to crack?

Michele: Oh I think it is and I think that they will appoint a woman bishop very quick - not an archbishop: that may take some time because that's a very senior role and you need to be quite experienced as a bishop to take it on.

Emily: So would you say that the actual Church of England needs a Vicky Burnham-Woods in order to help the Church move forward?

Michele: We certainly need visionaries! And I think we have a few around. Justin Welby certainly is a visionary. But I think yes: we do need Vicky's. She has a great common touch and ability to speak to the people and for them to respond and a passion to modernise in the sense that, "Let's close some of these churches that are a weight around our necks: these huge empty buildings that eat up all the world's resources" and someone who is prepared to take on some of these very hard things in order to move the Church forward. She's also passionate about children and the role of children and raising up a new generation of leaders if we're going to secure the future. All of those things I think are desperately needed. And, yes, I'd like to see a few Vicky's around.

Emily: What are some of your hopes for the future?

Michele: Well, I've got an extraordinary year: you just wouldn't believe this! My son and daughter-in-law return from Vienna with the three grandchildren: they've been there for three years for a work posting. My daughter-in-law will be ordained as a curate. And then the following month my daughter gets married: she's moving house as well. Then in September Peter retires from ministry, so we'll be moving house as well. Anything could happen! We are planning to spend six months of the year in France. We wrote a book called 'Autumn Leave', about why we are very committed to the French Church and to the French people and we'd love to go and spend more time with them. So we will be spending at least half of the year over there. I shall probably find myself doing a sequel to 'Autumn Leave' and telling the story of all our neighbours: wonderful book, amazing characters, and get up to all sorts of high jinks: the French are funny, I love them! I also have plans to write yet one more book on 'wonder' I think, because that's something we miss a lot in our world: whether you're Christian or not, we need wonder. I've just read a wonderful quote this morning that I think George Herbert the poet said, "If I am able just to bring something of a rosy sunset into the lives of others, then I shall have served them well." And I quite like that.

Emily: How can we find out more about yourself and also get hold of a copy of your book, Michele?

Michele: I have a website www.micheleguinness.co.uk and you can access the book from any Christian bookshop. Waterstones are stocking it, you can get it from the library and of course you can get it on Amazon as well. If you have a little hunt around you might get a good price.

You can buy Archbishop from Cross Rhythms Direct for £14.24.