5 July 2012 Last updated at 07:18 ET

The Very Rev Vivienne Faull appointed Dean of York Minster

The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull is expected to take over her role at York Minster in September

A woman has been confirmed as the new dean at York Minster.

The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, 57, was the first woman appointed to a cathedral deanery when she became dean at Leicester in 2000.

She succeeds Keith Jones who retired in April and is expected to take up her post in September.

Dean Faull said she was delighted and honoured to have been given the task of running one of England's largest cathedrals.

'Daunting task'

She has been at the forefront of the role of women in the church and was ordained in 1994.

Ordination of women in the Anglican Communion

Women's ordination has been debated since the beginning of the 20th Century. Women can be ordained as deacons and priests in the Church of England but not bishops. Women can and have been ordained as bishops in other provinces of the Anglican Communion.

A final vote is expected on whether women can be ordained as bishops at the General Synod in York in July. As it stands at the moment one in five Church of England licensed priests is female.

• BBC Religion: Church of England

There are only three other female deans running cathedrals in England.

"It is of course daunting to move from one of the smallest to one of the largest cathedrals, but I know that there are many people who care deeply for York Minster, its mission and ministry, and I look forward to leading a large team on its continued development," Dean Faull said.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said: "The dean designate brings a wealth of experience of cathedral life and we welcome her and her family most warmly to the Diocese of York."

Her appointment comes as the Church of England's governing body, the General Synod, is due to make a final decision about the ordination of women bishops when it meets in York from 7 July.