First female bishop welcomed with open arms in Shropshire

The Right Rev Mark Rylands, Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury, said he is thrilled to see women take on the role as bishop, bringing with them something extra to the Church.

He said: "Married to an ordained woman, Mandy, I have seen at first hand the added insight and skill that women bring to oversight leadership.

"The Bible gives much of the foundation for the Church's behaviour and actions.

"But the arguments used from scripture – women having to keep their heads covered and being told to keep silent in public – to prevent women being ordained as either priests or bishops seem to me to be bound by the culture of the day.

"It's true that 2,000 years ago when women were not in public leadership roles Jesus chose only male disciples to be his close followers.

"Yet, he did include women in his ministry in a radical way like no other religious leader of the time.

"It was a woman, Mary Magdalene who first saw Jesus risen from the dead on the first Easter Sunday, and acted as an 'apostle' in being sent to the other disciples to tell them that the Lord was indeed alive.

"I have no doubt that, if Jesus was physically here today, he would choose women to be amongst his close followers."

His welcome comes after the first woman bishop in the Church of England spoke out about people objecting to her filling the role – something Rt Rev Libby Lane surprisingly said she is grateful for.

Her consecration as Bishop of Stockport in January was interrupted with an objection during the liturgy from a lone traditionalist priest and some people still refuse to receive communion from her.

She said: "I genuinely think the Church of England is a better place for having dissenting voices that are heard and honoured.

"I've been fortunate through my ministry to have around me remarkable affirmation and encouragement.

"Other women in public ministry have had a difficult time, being threatened and needing restraining orders and protection.

I haven't had to face that. 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."

She has been vicar of St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, in Greater Manchester, since April 2007.

The bishop said she had seen thousands show their support and in comparison only a few had found a problem with her taking on the role.

Bishop Lane has revealed how as a schoolgirl in Glossop she had a serious hobby as a dancer, a passion she still holds today.

She said: "I did dance training – tap, ballet, modern – for 15 years, and so one of the things that is quite a significant part of my own relationship with God and my own spiritual identity is the sense of all of me, not just my head but my body as well, being able to relive those stories.

"Dance did very particularly inform my theology of incarnation, of God being present in the physical and the goodness of God in things that are tangible and enfleshed and embodied."

And after her dream changed from becoming a dancer to become a bishop, she was officially ordained into the role in January.

But her two hour service at York Minster was interrupted as Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu was asking the congregation to affirm the ordination.

A man stepped forward and shouted: ''No. Not in the Bible. With respect, Your Grace, I ask to speak on this absolute impediment, please.''

The Archbishop read a pre-prepared statement and repeated his question to the congregation, which was answered positively without further disruption.

But Bishop Rylands said he has been in favour of the move for a long time but can understand and accept those who disagree.

He said: "I have long been a supporter of including women as bishops in the Church and it is very good to see Libby called to serve as Bishop of Stockport.

"I welcome this move."

He said he believed it was as good move for the church moving forward.

He added: "The Church of England is for everyone because God is for everyone.

"And whilst we are now clear that women will be bishops in the Church of England, we want to include those who, for theological reasons, cannot accept this move and make sure there is still a place for them in the church.

"I have two priests with churches in the Shrewsbury Episcopal area who hold this position and I welcome and value highly their partnership and witness in the Good News of Jesus Christ."