This morning, the Prime Minister’s Office published the following Press Release
“Suffragan See of Stockport: Elizabeth Jane Holden Lane nomination approved
The Queen has approved the nomination of Elizabeth Lane for election as Suffragan See of Stockport in the Diocese of Chester.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Elizabeth Jane Holden Lane, MA, Vicar of Hale and Ashley and Dean of Women in Ministry, in the Diocese of Chester, to the Suffragan See of Stockport, also in the Diocese of Chester, in succession to the Right Reverend Robert Ronald Atwell, BA, MLitt, on his elevation to the See of Exeter on 27 February 2014.
The PM said:
‘I would like to congratulate Elizabeth Lane on her appointment as Suffragan See of Stockport and in doing so becoming the first woman bishop in the Church. This is an historic appointment and an important step forward for the Church towards greater equality in its senior positions.
And the government is playing its part too by bringing forward legislation this week that will allow women bishops to sit in the House of Lords.’
Notes for editors:
The Reverend Elizabeth (Libby) Lane (aged 48), was educated at St Peter’s College, Oxford and trained for the ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. She served her curacy at Saint James Blackburn from 1993 to 1996 in the Diocese of Blackburn. From 1996 to 1999 she had Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of York. From 2000 until present she has served in the Diocese of Chester: from 2000 to 2002 she was Family Life Education Officer, from 2002 to 2007 she was Team Vicar at Stockport South West and from 2005 to 2007 was also Assistant Director of Ordinands. Since 2007 she has been Vicar at Hale and Ashley, and from 2010 been Dean of Women in Ministry. She has been a Bishop’s Selection Advisor since 2003. In 2013 she was elected as Participant Observer in the House of Bishops for the North West Region.
Reverend Elizabeth Lane is married to Reverend George Lane, Coordinating Chaplain at Manchester Airport, and they have two grown up children. Her interests include being a school governor, encouraging social action initiatives, learning to play the saxophone, supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords.
Oddly enough, the first woman on the High Court of England and Wales was also Elizabeth Lane. Strange coincidence.
Pingback: Another saxophonist to be bishop | Law & Religion UK