The Bishop of Chelmsford has taken the bookmaker’s lead to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

The odds are at 2/1 for Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis Dehqani to take the Church of England’s top seat, according to Ladbrokes, and 2/1 according to Star Sports.

If chosen, Bishop Guli would make history as the first woman to hold the role in its 1,428-year history.

Bishop Gulii, 58, was born in Iran and moved to Britain with her family following the country’s Islamic Revolution. Her father served as the Anglican Bishop in Iran and had threats made against his life. Shortly before the family fled, Guli’s brother, Bahram, was killed.

Bishop Guli is not avoidant of discussing tough issues; this week, she is one of 30 Christian leaders to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister condemning his comments about Britain becoming “an island of strangers” through migration.

She said: “In the churches and different communities I am a part of, we are not an ‘island of strangers’. Migrants are not ‘strangers’ but friends who fully participate and contribute as we worship, serve, and live life together.”

Also favoured to take the top spot are the Bishop of London, Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Rt Rev Michael Beasley, and the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Martyn Snow – who has overseen the Living in Love and Faith process.

However, being favourite to win can be a poisoned chalice.

In 2002, following the retirement of Lord Carey of Clifton, Michael Nazir-Ali was tipped as a frontrunner but was not ultimately chosen. Similarly, after former Archbishop Rowan Williams announced his retirement in 2012, initial favourites included Lord Sentamu and Christopher Cocksworth - yet Justin Welby was eventually selected, despite not being considered among the top contenders at the outset.

Williams said the process of the Crown Nominations Commission can be unpredictable, and that seeking God’s will and discernment can “genuinely shift people’s perspectives”.