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UK News

Libby Lane becomes Bishop of Stockport

by Desmond Busteed

The 48-year-old mother of two will now be known as Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport

The move ends centuries of all-male leadership in the Church, however the occasion was tainted slightly when a man disrupted proceedings shouting "'No, not in my name it is not in the Bible!" during the historic service.

He's since been identified as the Revd Paul Williamson, who church officials describe as a 'serial protester'.

Speaking on The News Hour from York Minster, Premier's Cindy Kent told the programme that the Church dealt with the protester appropriately, before the Archbishop of York was again forced to ask the congregation if they supported Rt Revd Libby Lane's consecration, she said: "They were prepared and hats off to the Church of England, they got that absolutely right.

"There was a pause, he read out the statement, we carried on...the next time he asked us it was a unanimous 'yes we will'."

A rapturous applause came from the congregation of around 2,000 as Rt Revd Lane was officially presented for the first time as the Bishop of Stockport.

The historic service comes months after legislation was changed allowing women bishops following years of fractious debate within the Church of England over the issue.

Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu:

Premier's Revd Cindy Kent:

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