Church of England announces first female bishop

The first female bishop in the Church of England was announced Wednesday, ending the history of only a male being the bishop of the church.

Downing Street announced Wednesday that Rev. Libby Lane will be the new Bishop of Stockport, while her duty will be to serve as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chester, Xinhua reported.

The Church of England said she would be consecrated as the 8th Bishop of Stockport at a ceremony at York Minster Jan 26.

“I am grateful for, though somewhat daunted by, the confidence placed in me by the Diocese of Chester. This is unexpected and very exciting,” Rev. Libby Lane said at Stockport town hall after the nomination, which was also approved by the Queen.

“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,” she added.

Libby Lane was ordained as a priest in 1994 and has served a number of parish and chaplaincy roles in the North of England in the Dioceses of Blackburn, York and Chester. For the past eight years, she has served as Vicar of St. Peter’s Hale and St. Elizabeth’s Ashley.