York, ENGLAND — The Church of England has consecrated its first female bishop during a ceremony at York Minster. The Reverend Libby Lane, 48, has been ordained as the new Bishop of Stockport in front of more than 1,000 people.
The Church formally adopted legislation last November to allow women bishops, following decades of argument over women’s ordination.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who led the service, said he had been “praying and working for this day”. During the two-hour service, Dr Sentamu and other bishops laid their hands on Mrs Lane and prayed. This was followed by lengthy applause.
“It is high time we had women bishops. I have been praying and working for this day. In a few years’ time when more and more women will be bishops, I predict we shall be wondering how we ever managed without them.” – Dr Sentamu
However, in an indication that some Anglicans still oppose women’s ordination, the service was briefly delayed by an opponent of the changes. The Rev Paul Williamson stepped forward shouting “not in the Bible” after the Archbishop of York asked the church if Mrs. Lane should be ordained as a bishop.
The second time Dr Sentamu asked the congregation, there was no opposition and the ceremony continued.
A Church of England spokesman said of Mr Williamson, priest in charge of a church in Hanworth, Middlesex: “He’s got the right to protest but the contrast was between a lone voice protesting and a sea of voices affirming.”
Mrs Lane had said the consecration would be a very “emotional” moment.
“It is a remarkable thing that this happens to me, and people have been very supportive of me personally, but actually this is about a moment in the Church’s history.” – Mrs. Lane
Speaking after the service her son Benedict said, “We’ve been building up to it now for a long time and it’s satisfying that it has finally happened and we are finally here. She’s the best person for the job.”
Her consecration comes more than 20 years after women became priests in the Church of England. And it comes after the general synod gave the final seal of approval to the legislation on women bishops following its passage through Parliament last year. After the change was approved, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that the Church was entering a “completely new phase of our existence”.
Meet the new Bishop of Stockport
- Vicar of St Peter’s Hale and St Elizabeth’s Ashley, in Greater Manchester, since April 2007
- Ordained as deacon in 1993 and as priest in 1994, serving her curacy at St James’s Church, Blackburn
- Since January 2010, she has been Dean of Women in Ministry for the Diocese of Chester
- Her husband, George, is also a priest
- They were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together
- She is a Manchester United supporter and is learning to play the saxophone, according to her church’s website.
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