Church Of England Ordains First Female Bishop In Landmark Ceremony

The first woman bishop in the history of the Church of England was yesterday officially consecrated. The Reverend Libby Lane became the Bishop of Stockport in a service conducted by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. The historic event was briefly interrupted by the appearance of an ultra-conservative priest shouting 'Not in the Bible' as she was presented to the congregation.

A Church of England spokesman identified the man as Rev Paul Williamson, and described him as a 'serial protester' who had been expected to attend. He said: 'He's got the right to protest but the contrast was between a lone voice protesting and a sea of voices affirming.'

Mrs Lane, an Oxford-educated mother of two, was appointed as a bishop last month, in a historic move which ends five centuries of all-male leadership in the church. That announcement came just weeks after the General Synod formally adopted legislation allowing women to take the role, following years of furious debate on the issue.

At the time of her appointment, Mrs Lane said it was a 'great honour' to be the first female bishop - but insisted that she would not simply be a token face. 'This moment is significant, but it is not simply a gesture,' she said. 'I'm the first, but I won't be the only. And I follow in the footsteps of women across the Anglican Church and globally.'

The announcement prompted fears that it could lead to a split in the Anglican community, as traditionalists have long fought against the prospect of women becoming bishops. However, Mrs Lane said she wanted to 'heal and not to hurt, to build up and not to destroy'.

Source: DailyMail 
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