Profile of Stockport - and the world's - first female Anglican bishop

Libby Lane has been the Vicar of St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, in the Diocese of Chester, since April 2007, and from January 2010 has also been Dean of Women in Ministry for the diocese.

After school in Manchester and University at Oxford, she trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham.

She was ordained a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994, serving her curacy in Blackburn.

Prior to moving to Hale, Libby was Team Vicar in the Stockport South West Team, and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Chester, advising and supporting those considering a vocation to ministry in the church. She continues to be a Bishop's Selection Advisor.

Libby has served in the Diocese of York, as Chaplain in hospital and further education, and as Family Life Officer for the Committee for Social Responsibility in the Diocese of Chester.

She is one of eight clergy women from the Church of England elected as Participant Observers in the House of Bishops, as the representative from the dioceses of the North West.

Libby's husband, George, is also a priest; they were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together.

George is Coordinating Chaplain at Manchester Airport, licensed in the Diocese of Manchester.

They have two grown up children who are currently studying in higher education.

Her interests include being a school governor, encouraging social action initiatives, learning to play the saxophone, supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords.