Something easily overlooked is the role of widows in the early Church--they were accorded a high status. (However, they may have been too dangerously "close to ordained" to survive the suppression of female contributions that occurred later.) But these were clearly wives and non-virgins who were holy and authoritative--teachers, ministers, layers on of hands . . . 

Also, remember that the Eastern Church has its own saints, but they are actually the saints of both East and West for the first thousand years. Hmm, how about Thecla? Tertullian, true to form, didn't like her but she was big with the Byzantines. Virgin, yes, but engaged to be married. She walked away from a life of comfort and according to legend was a real Wonder Woman--fought off a rapist, subsequently charged with accosting a noble, saved from being eaten by wild beasts by a miracle. ;-) Go, Thecla!