THE first female Church of England bishop will be consecrated today in York.

Rev Libby Lane, the new Bishop of Stockport, has been vicar St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, since April 2007, has described this morning's consecration as a "profound and remarkable moment".

The Church of England adopted legislation last November to allow women bishops to end the exclusivity of male bishops but continues to create divisions between some Anglicans.

The two-hour service, in front of a 1,000 people at York Minster, will be led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, during which he and other bishops will lay their hands on Mrs Lane.

In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, Mrs Lane said the consecration would be a very "emotional" moment.

She said: "It is a remarkable thing that this happens to me, and people have been very supportive of me personally, but actually this is about a moment in the Church's history."

It would be "a very profound, remarkable moment for me then and for my future ministry", she said.

The mum-of-two is a Manchester United supporter and enjoys playing the saxophone and doing crosswords.

She was born in Glossop, Derbyshire in 1966 and educated at Manchester High School for girls before going on to study theology at St Peter's College, Oxford.

After Oxford, she went on to study at Durham University and was ordained a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994, and has additionally served several other posts.

After serving her curacy in Blackburn, Lancashire, she went on act as chaplain in a hospital and further education in the diocese of York.

Anyone who wants to offer their best wishes to Reverend Lane is welcome to add a comment below.