The new Bishop of Stockport, the Right Reverend Libby Lane, was consecrated in York Minster today in the face of opposition from some in the Church of England who believe that a Manchester United supporter cannot take on such a role and would be unable to be a focus of unity within a Diocese.

Indeed, a lone Man City supporter was heard to call out during the service “Not in my name!” and complain to the Archbishop of York that “It’s not in the Bible: none of the apostles were Man United supporters!”

However, the service continued and the saxophone-playing, Manchester United supporting, crossword-tackling Bishop of Stockport was consecrated to loud acclamation from the 1000 or so in the congregation for whom no detail of her personhood was a barrier to the love and grace of God working in her ministry as Bishop.