For the first time in history, the Church of England on Monday voted in favour of women being allowed to become bishops, breaking nearly 2,000 years of tradition and ending 20 years of bitter compromises since women were allowed to become priests in 1994.
152 members of the synod voted in favour while 45 were against it.
This means that next year, the first woman might become a suffragan (assistant) bishop and her appointment could be announced before the end of 2014.
A previous attempt in 2012 failed when 74 lay members voted against, preventing the required two-thirds majority among the laity.
According to The Guardian report, the vote may have been tipped by a closing speech of astonishing force and passion by a blind evangelical Christian who rose to become managing director of Lloyds bank after he had lost his sight.
Speaking to the key evangelical community opposed to the measure, John Spence told them: "Your faith is my faith, is all of our faith, and every one of us has a vital role to ensure that the searing vision of the risen Christ is taken out into this country, trust not misplaced. You, like me, will come to see … I am confident that we can walk hand in hand, and return the risen Christ to his rightful place at the centre of this country, its conscience and its culture."
Earlier Welby had urged the synod to vote in favour, saying that the move would show the world how Christians could practice "good disagreement".
Twenty-seven of the earlier opponents changed their minds, among them Tom Sutcliffe, who said the measure would now bring "episcopal femininity" that would enrich the church.
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