LONDON: History was made on Wednesday with the Church of England appointing its first ever female bishop in the form of Libby Lane, a parish priest from Crewe.
Her appointment brings to an end 22 years of resistance to the promotion of female priests.
Lane said, "A remarkable day for me and a historic day for the church. Excited and a little daunted to be entrusted with such a ministry. Conscious of those recognized and unrecognized who have prayed and worked and suffered for this moment."
The general synod of the Church voted to back plans for female bishops in July and formally adopted legislation on November 17. The appointment will end centuries of male leadership of the Church and comes 20 years after women became priests.
The nomination of Lane as the new Bishop of Stockport was approved by the Queen and announced on Wednesday.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted, "Congratulations to Rev Libby Lane on becoming the first woman bishop in the Church. A historic appointment and an important day for equality."
As Bishop of Stockport she will serve as a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the Diocese of Chester. She will be consecrated as the 8th Bishop of Stockport at a ceremony at York Minster on January 26, 2015.
Libby Lane was ordained as a priest in 1994 and has served a number of parish and chaplaincy roles in the North of England. She is one of eight clergy women from the Church of England elected as participant observers in the House of Bishops. After school in Manchester and University at Oxford, Lane trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham. She was ordained a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994, serving her curacy in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu said, "Libby brings a wealth of experience in parish ministry, in hospital and chaplaincy, in vocations work and the nurture of ordinands."
Archbishop of Canterbury 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. She will be bishop in a diocese that has been outstanding in its development of people."
Her appointment brings to an end 22 years of resistance to the promotion of female priests.
Lane said, "A remarkable day for me and a historic day for the church. Excited and a little daunted to be entrusted with such a ministry. Conscious of those recognized and unrecognized who have prayed and worked and suffered for this moment."
The general synod of the Church voted to back plans for female bishops in July and formally adopted legislation on November 17. The appointment will end centuries of male leadership of the Church and comes 20 years after women became priests.
The nomination of Lane as the new Bishop of Stockport was approved by the Queen and announced on Wednesday.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted, "Congratulations to Rev Libby Lane on becoming the first woman bishop in the Church. A historic appointment and an important day for equality."
As Bishop of Stockport she will serve as a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the Diocese of Chester. She will be consecrated as the 8th Bishop of Stockport at a ceremony at York Minster on January 26, 2015.
Libby Lane was ordained as a priest in 1994 and has served a number of parish and chaplaincy roles in the North of England. She is one of eight clergy women from the Church of England elected as participant observers in the House of Bishops. After school in Manchester and University at Oxford, Lane trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham. She was ordained a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994, serving her curacy in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu said, "Libby brings a wealth of experience in parish ministry, in hospital and chaplaincy, in vocations work and the nurture of ordinands."
Archbishop of Canterbury 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. She will be bishop in a diocese that has been outstanding in its development of people."
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