A PEAL of cathedral bells rang across Blackburn last night to celebrate the consecration of the Church of England’s first female bishop who started her ministry in the town.

The Reverend Libby Lane was ordained yesterday as the eighth Bishop of Stockport during a service at York Minster, disrupted by a lone protester. She began her church career as a curate at Saint James, Shear Brow, from 1993 to 1996.

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Her consecration as a Bishop made history as she became the first woman appointed to the top rank of the Church of England after years of debate and division on the issue. Yesterday evening, the bells of Blackburn Cathedral rang out in an hour-long ‘Quarter Peal’ to mark the occasion.

Bell ringer and former ‘Tower Master’ Ian Smith, said: “We thought it was an appropriate way to mark a piece of Church of England history. All 10 bell ringers invited took part.

“We wanted to celebrate the first woman Bishop and the fact that she started her ministry here in Blackburn.”

The York Minster protest came an hour into the service as the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu asked the congregation ‘if it was their will that Rev Lane was ordained’. As the congregation of nearly 2,000 people replied “It is”, the Rev Paul Williamson, shouted: “No. not in the Bible. With respect, Your Grace, I ask to speak on this absolute impediment, please.”

Dr Sentamu read out a prepared statement and repeated his question. There was no further interruption and the service continued. Rev Lane knelt before the Archbishop while he and the other bishops laid their hands on her head. A Church spokesman said Rev Williamson was a “serial protester”. adding, “He’s got the right to protest but the contrast was between a lone voice protesting and a sea of voices affirming.”

The Rev Lane studied theology at Oxford University, where she met her husband, now the Rev George Lane.

The pair were ordained together in July 1994, with Mrs Lane one of the first female priests in the Church of England.Since then, she had roles in the Dioceses of Blackburn, York and Chester.

The row over women Bishops continued in Blackburn on Sunday when the Rev Ann Morris, of St Oswald’s Church, Knuzden held a 10-minute silence in protest over the forthcoming consecration of the Bishop of Burnley.

She made her stand after changes were made to the Rev Philip North’s ceremony because, she believes, of his opposition to female bishops.