Church of England names Libby Lane as first female bishop

Rev Libby Lane

Rev Libby Lane has been named as the first female Bishop in the Church of England.

The historic move comes a month after the General Synod in York approved legislation to elevate women to the position and 20 years after the first women were ordained as priests.

It marks a dramatic change in the Church of England and comes as it was revealed the Government is planning to introduce legislation tomorrow to Parliament to allow female bishops into the House of Lords.

Rev Libby Lane comes from an Anglican, but not particularly church-going, family. She became interested in the church after attending a small Anglican church community in rural Derbyshire.

 studied theology at St Peter's College, Oxford, where she met her husband.

She trained for the ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham.The 48-year-old was ordained as a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994 - the first year that women were ordained into the priesthood. Mrs Lane was ordained with her husband and they were one of the first married couples to do so. 

She has held a number of roles in the north of England in the dioceses of Blackburn, York and Chester.

She was team Vicar in the Stockport South West Team and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Chester. 

Rev Lane has been vicar at Hale in Greater Manchester and Ashley in Cheshire since 2007.

She is married to the Rev George Lane, coordinating chaplain at Manchester Airport. They were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together. 

The couple have two children, Connie, 20, and Benedict, 18.

Her interests include being a school governor, encouraging social action initiatives, learning to play the saxophone, supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords. 

Mrs Lane was originally part of a committee tasked to find a candidate for the bishopric but was invited to apply herself following the vote in the Synod last month.  

She will be consecrated as the Bishop of Stockport on January 26 at York Minster. 

Her position at the Bishop of Stockport makes her an assistant in the Chester Diocese. 

But because the post is fairly junior she will not be allowed to sit in the House of Lords. 

Rev Libby Lane is married to Rev George Lane and the couple were one of the first to be ordained together 

Rev Lane, 48, said she was grateful for the opportunity but admitted she was 'somewhat daunted' by the position. 

Speaking with journalists after her nomination, she said: 'On this historic day as the Church of England announces the first woman nominated to be Bishop, I am very conscious of all those who have gone before me, women and men, who for decades have looked forward to this moment. But most of all I am thankful to God.' 

'Today, I pray that it will not be simply about this one woman called to a new ministry in the Church but, much more than that, an opportunity to acknowledge all that has gone before and to look ahead to what is still to be done.' 

A round of applause erupted in Stockport Town Hall as the official announcement was made this morning.

She added: 'I know there will be those rejoicing, and there will be those who have been distressed and disturbed by today's announcement.

'I'm committed to the Church's principles of mutual flourishing, and that my ministry will serve all those, churches and people in this diocese, whatever their views.

'And I pray that we will find our common ground so that we can come together.'

Responding, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, said: 'I am absolutely delighted that Libby has been appointed to succeed Bishop Robert Atwell as Bishop of Stockport. 

'Her Christ-centred life, calmness and clear determination to serve the church and the community make her a wonderful choice.' 

He had previously said the church was entering a 'completely new phase' and that half of bishops could be women in 15 years. 

Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'Congratulations to the Rev Libby Lane on becoming the first woman bishop in the Church. An historic appointment and important day for equality.' 

Mrs Lane, who was educated at Oxford, and trained for the ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. She is married to Rev George Lane, co-ordinating chaplain at Manchester Airport and is a mother of two. 

The announcement follows more than 30 years of moves to get women appointed to positions in the Church of England. 

The General Synod voted in favour of approving legislation allowing women to become bishops in November

YEARS OF WRANGLES AND DISSENT TO ALLOW WOMEN TO PLAY GREATER ROLES IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND WHICH COULD SEE THEM IN THE LORDS

The path to appoint the first Bishop for the Church of England has not been a smooth one. 

Moves to make women part of the church began in 1975 when the General Synod found there was no objection for women to become ordained as priests. 

In 1978 this was voted down. 

Women were allowed to become deacons after a successful vote in 1985. 

In 1992 the Church voted to allow women to become ordained as priests. 

Two years later, in 1994, the first 1,500 women were ordained. 

In 2005 a motion to allow women to become bishops was approved. 

But this was defeated in 2012 when a vote to make this legislation failed. 

In November 2014 the General Synod passed the vote, paving the way for Rev Lane to become the Church of England's first woman bishop. 

On December 17 Rev Libby Lane, a parish priest from Cheshire, was announced as the first woman Bishop. 

Her appointment is expected to be one of a number of dramatic changes in the Church of England being announced this month that will transform the role of females in the church. 

A bill is expected to be presented to Parliament on Thursday to suspend the current rules which governs appointments of bishops to the Lords for 10 years. 

The Government hopes this will allow them to sidestep the current process of appointing Bishops to the House of Lords, which is decided on the basis of length of service. They want to allow women to be fast-tracked to sit in the upper chamber and to be given priority if an opening comes up in the House of Lords in a form of positive discrimination. 

It is hoped this could happen by as early as next year and the move has been backed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour.  

Culled from Daily mail