Girl from Montego Bay: The Autobiography of Britain's First Black Woman Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin

by Rose Hudson-Wilkin

Publisher:

SPCK Publishing

, 2025

Overview

'The late South African president Nelson Mandela once famously declared, "It always seems impossible until it is done." His words could easily have been applied to the life of Rose Hudson-Wilkin... there is a genuine exuberance in her narration that is both contagious and inspiring.'
THE MOST REVD MICHAEL B. CURRY, XXVII PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, from the foreword

The Girl from Montego Bay is the autobiography of trailblazer Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Britain's first black woman bishop, who has been right at the heart of a changing nation for over forty years.

As a student, Rose had a poster over her desk that read: 'Do not go where the path leads. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail.'

And she does! Offering eye-opening insights into her humble and challenging beginnings in Jamaica, Rose charts her call to train as an evangelist at the Church Army College in London, where she met her future husband, Ken. Captivatingly open to the nudging of the Spirit, Rose simply has a go at everything that comes her way. The discrimination she's faced, due to her gender and minority-ethnic background, is very real. Yet Rose's infectious energy and humour shine through stories of her beloved Hackney, the ten years she ministered to (sometimes wayward) colleagues in Parliament, and her joy at playing a major role in the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023.

Appointed MBE in the 2020 New Year Honors for 'services to young people and the Church', and listed in the 2020 and 2021 Power list of the 100 the most influential people in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent, Rose discloses that if there’s one thing she would like to see change in her lifetime, it's that accomplishments like hers stop being 'firsts' and simply become normal.

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Contents

Introduction
1 Born in Montego Bay
2 Going to school
3 Mother's return from England
4 Sent back to Montego Bay
5 Secondary school
6 Arriving in England
7 Return to Jamaica
8 Setting up home in the UK to start a family
9 Ordination
10 Women priests
11 A baby brother, etc
12 Hackney
13 Royal connections
14 Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons
15 Time in Parliament
16 Called to be Bishop of Dover
17 Work as Bishop of Dover

Praise for Girl from Montego Bay

'"We're all on a journey." And this is a luminous journey of resilience, of faith, of joy and hope. What we all need now.'

'Bishop Rose's autobiography captures the essence of a woman whose deep spirituality and unwavering commitment to justice have shaped the lives of countless individuals in both the UK and around the world. Her reflections on faith, leadership and resilience offer powerful lessons for readers from all walks of life... making this a must-read for anyone who seeks to challenge societal norms and live authentically.'

'Powerful, insightful and incredibly moving. The Girl from Montego Bay invites you into a world of remarkable resilience, sheer tenacity and deep familial love from strangers. Bishop Rose navigates a harsh childhood in her beloved tropical island to journey to another, where she faces a different set of challenges without the sunshine to compensate. Her one constant is her faith and indomitable self-belief.'

'Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin is well known for her courage in speaking out for justice and for her commitment to those who suffer discrimination and prejudice. Her memoirs reveal exactly why she has been able to do this with such passion and integrity. Above all, the extraordinary stories of her childhood and early adulthood show her costly and lifelong obedience to Jesus Christ and her trust in a loving God, in spite of experiences that could have crushed her. Her story is unputdownable and unforgettable.'

'The powerful memoir of Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin … a public theologian whose vision calls us all to live into the beloved community that God created us to be. This is not only a story of personal triumph, but also an Alleluia - an echo of faith, hope and love... a gift that will inspire generations to come.'

'This is the most humane, humorous and enjoyable Episcopal autobiography in living memory. Rose's epic journey on the Montego Bay to Dover Express is packed with poignancy and passion with cameo appearances by The Queen, Speaker John Bercow, Bishop John Sentamu and husband Ken as the Bishop's rock. A must read.'

Product Details

• Title: Girl from Montego Bay: The Autobiography of Britain's First Black Woman Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin
• Author: Rose Hudson-Wilkin
• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Print Publication Date: 2025
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Pages: 244
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9780281089628, 9780281089604, 0281089604, 0281089620
• Resource ID: LLS:9780281089628
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T22:53:23Z