The first woman bishop in the Church of England will be installed at Chester Cathedral on Sunday to mark the formal beginning of her ministry in the diocese.
Libby Lane, who was consecrated as the eighth Bishop of Stockport at York Minister in January, will be formally installed at the cathedral on International Women’s Day and will give her first sermon in her new role.
The Church of England formally adopted legislation last November to allow women to be bishops, following decades of debate.
During the service she will be presented with her pastoral staff team and be welcomed by the civic and faith communities from across the Diocese of Chester.
It is anticipated that the service will attract more than 1500 people including Lord Mayor of Chester Bob Rudd, mayor of Cheshire East Wesley Fitzgerald, and the High Sheriffs and Lord Lieutenants of Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Bishop Libby was previous Vicar of Hale and Ashley in the Chester Diocese from 2007-14.
She is married to the Rev George Lane, coordinating chaplain at Manchester Airport.
They were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together. The couple have two children, Connie, 20, and Benedict, 18.
The Bishop of Birkenhead Keith Sinclair, will welcome Libby before the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster will invite the Dean of Chester, The Very Revd Professor Gordon McPhate, to install her as the Bishop of Stockport.
Professor McPhate, said: “We are honoured to welcome the Bishop of Stockport and her supporters to this installation service at the cathedral.
“The service will mark a day of worship and celebration – for men and women alike – as a new chapter is created in the Church of England.”
