Huzzah!
The Rev Libby Lane, a parish priest from Crewe, is the surprise choice for the Church of England’s first female bishop. She has been appointed suffragan (assistant) bishop of Stockport, which the church counts as part of Chester diocese.
Her appointment brings to an end 22 years of resistance to the promotion of female priests. The General Synod decided in 1992 that women might be priests, but kept a glass ceiling in place, with the help of parliamentary exemptions from equality laws, for a further 22 years. This is at least 10 years more than anyone foresaw.
posted by Jon White