Church of England gets first female bishop despite protest

York, United Kingdom: The Church of England ended centuries of male-only leadership on Monday as Libby Lane became its first female bishop in a ceremony briefly disrupted by a traditionalist priest´s protest.

Around 100 bishops gathered around the 48-year-old to perform the traditional "laying on of hands" at the ceremony´s climax in the Gothic splendour of York Minster, northern England.

The congregation of some 2,000 people broke into applause and cheers and some shed tears.

Highlighting the divisions which dog the Church despite a painstaking reconciliation process, a lone conservative opposed to women as bishops had earlier disrupted the ceremony.

When asked by Archbishop John Sentamu if it was their will that Lane become a bishop, the congregation responded: "It is!", but one man shouted out: "No, it´s not in the Bible!"

In a statement which had been pre-prepared in anticipation of a possible protest, Sentamu then told the man that his challenge had no basis in law and continued with the ceremony.

Church spokesman Arun Arora described the man, conservative clergyman Paul Williamson, as a "serial protester", adding: "It´s a contrast between a lone voice protesting and a sea of voices in affirmation."

Lane, dressed in black, white and violet vestments, swore oaths of allegiance and canonical obedience during the two-hour ceremony also attended by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the top bishop in the Church of England.

At the end, she was handed a pastoral staff by Sentamu, who told her: "Keep watch over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you shepherd." (AFP)