Bread Not Stones: The Autobiography of an Eventful Life

by Una Kroll

The life journey of a woman who—as a medical doctor, missionary nun, pioneer of gender equality, Anglican priest, and now a contemplative Catholic—influenced the lives of thousands.

Una Kroll is one of the most outspoken campaigners for the ordination of women. She achieved a certain notoriety in 1978 at the Church of England’s General Synod when its members turned down a proposal to prepare legislation to ordain women to the priesthood. Quoting from Matthew 7:9, she shouted from the gallery "We asked you for bread and you gave us a stone."

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the ordination of women on the Church of England and 2015 will almost certainly see the consecration of women as bishops. This celebration will both rekindle interest in the history of the movement for women's ordination and also serve to further ignite debate for the same in the Roman Catholic Church.

Una Kroll told BBC radio about the campaign for the full inclusion of women into the Anglican church and her role in it. Listen again at

143 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2014

Reviews

[Phil Calandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Bread and Stones" is the autobiography of Una Knoll's journey as missionary medical doctor trained in psychiatry, an Anglican Deacon and Priest and, most important, an activist for women's rights and the underprivileged, vulnerable and oppressed. When very young, the author describes a mysterious force, warm energy and a sense of peace which she experienced several times in her life. She identified this force as the mysterious energy of God and describes as being touched by a "Creative Love" and the interconnectedness between all creation. Unfortunately, she was unable to reconcile this experience with the dictates of Institutional Religion which was a chronic source of disappointment most of her life. However, she will be best remembered as feminist campaigner for the ordination of women and an activist for peace and justice.