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Reverend Lane is a mother of two and keen saxophone player. Picture: Nigel Roddis/Getty Source: Getty Images
TWENTY years after the first women were ordained as priests by the Church of England, the home of the denomination has appointed its first female bishop, joining 30 other women in the worldwide communion.
The Queen yesterday Âapproved the appointment of Libby Lane, a 48-year-old mother of two, Manchester United fan and keen saxophone player as Bishop of Stockport in the diocese of Chester.
“This is unexpected and very exciting,’’ Reverend Lane 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.â€
The step comes 22 years after the General Synod agreed there was no fundamental objection to women becoming priests but failed to change the law to allow them to be consecrated bishops. But five months ago the synod moved to allow women bishops, a decision ratified in November. Mrs Lanes’ appointment as a suffragan (junior) bishop was the least complicated route for such a promotion.
Several female candidates are short-listed to head the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, to be appointed early next year.
The church and parliament have moved to fast track women into several of the 26 spots allocated to bishops in the House of Lords. The House of Commons plans to suspend seniority rules for the Lords appointments for a decade to enable females to join their male associates on the bishops’ bench.
Theoretically if the bill is passed early next year, a woman bishop could sit alongside the archbishops of York and Canterbury, and the bishops of London, Durham and Winchester by the time of the election in May.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby wants a 50-50 gender split on the bishops’ bench within 15 years, a bold statement of intent, considering women as lay readers conducted the church’s work throughout World War I.
Mrs Lane said: “I stand in a long line of women and men whose self-giving service has changed the world for good.
“So today I pray will not be simply about one woman called up to a new ministry in the church but much more than that, an Âopportunity to acknowledge all that has gone before and to look ahead to what is still to be done.â€
Prime Minister David Cameron said Mrs Lane’s elevation was “a historic appointment and important day for equality’’.
Mrs Lane was ordained a Âdeacon in 1993 and became a priest in 1994, the first year women were ordained, at the same time as her husband.
The churches of Scotland and Wales allow women bishops but have yet to appoint one. Last year Pat Storey was Âappointed by the Church of Ireland as the Bishop of Meath and Kildare.
Appointing women bishops has not been as controversial in other parts of the world. Thereare nearly 30 women bishops in Australia, Canada, Cuba, India, New Zealand, Swaziland, South Africa and the US.
Sarah Macneil was consecrated as Australia’s first female leader of an Anglican diocese — Grafton, NSW — in February this year and there are four Âfemale junior bishops of the Anglican Church in Australia. Kay Goldsworthy was six years ago the first woman appointed a bishop in Australia.