A FORMER Hale vicar made history when she became Church of England's first woman bishop.

The Rev Libby Lane, who up to her appointment, had served the parishes St Peter's and St Elizabeth's in Ashley, was consecrated at a service at York Minister today.

It was led by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu and attended by more than 1,000 people, including more than 100 bishops from across the Anglican Church.

In a statement shortly after being consecrated, the former Manchester High School for Girls pupil, who is the new Bishop of Stockport, said she had been encouraged by the thousands of messages of support she has received since the news of her appointment in November.

She explained: "Archbishop Sentamu has observed, the way that we show our faith and our love for one another is with two simple things, prayer and parties."

"Today is an occasion of prayer and of party - and I am thrilled that so many want to share in both.

"My consecration service is not really about me. With echoes of practice which has been in place for hundreds of years in the church, it is a reminder that what I am about to embark on is shared by the bishops around me, by those who have gone before me and those who will come after. It places the ministry of a bishop in the context of the ministry of all God's people. And most importantly it retells the good news of Jesus, the faithful one, who calls each of us to follow him."

"Thank you to all who are praying for me and partying with me today. Please continue to hold me in your prayers as, after the example of St Timothy and St Titus, who are celebrated by the Church on this day, I share in work of proclaiming the gospel, in word and action, and bearing witness to the name of Jesus."

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

The service itself was briefly halted by a lone protester the Rev Paul Williamson, after Archbishop Sentamu asked for a second time if there were any objections to the 48-year-old's ordination.

Rev Williamson, priest in charge of a church in Middlesex, said "not in the Bible."

The new bishop was born in Glossop, Derbyshire in 1966 and after leaving Manchester High School for girls went 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.