Church of England names first female bishop

Downing Street and the Church of England announced that the Rev. Libby Lane, who was been a priest since 1994, will be the new bishop of Stockport, in northern England. Lane is the first woman bishop to serve in the church. She will be consecrated as a bishop on January 26, 2015.

LONDON. – The Rev Libby Lane, a parish priest from Crewe, is the surprise choice for the Church of England’s first female bishop. She has been appointed suffragan (assistant) bishop of Stockport. Her appointment brings to an end 22 years of resistance to the promotion of female priests. The General Synod decided in 1992 that women might be priests, but kept a glass ceiling in place, with the help of parliamentary exemptions from equality laws, for a further 22 years. This is at least 10 years more than anyone foresaw.

This appointment was the soonest that could possibly be made after the synod finally allowed women to become bishops in July this year. It took until November for the measure to become law.

Her consecration will take place on January 26 2015.

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 recognised and unrecognised who have prayed and worked and suffered for this moment.”

Congratulations were tweeted by the prime minister, David Cameron, who described it as “an historic appoint- ment”.

Hilary Cotton, of the pressure group Women and the Church, said: “The Church of England has shown a remarkable turn of speed in getting to this point only two years after the negative vote in November 2012 . . .” – The Guardian.