HISTORY has been made with the consecration of Cumbria’s first female bishop.

Rev Dr Emma Ineson became the new Suffragan Bishop of Penrith during a ceremony in stunning York Minister yesterday.

She was joined by family, friends and a 160-strong contingent from the Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria – for the moving service.

She is now the church’s second most senior figure in the county, following the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome.

He presented her to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, in a service which included many personal touches.

The Church of England’s first female diocesan bishop, the Rt Rev Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester - and a close friend of the new Bishop of Penrith - preached the sermon.

And, during communion, Toby Ineson, the 18-year-old son of Emma and her husband Mat, read the Welsh poet George Herbert’s Love Bade Me Welcome.

Bishop Emma, who takes up the post after five years as Principal of Trinity College, Bristol, said: “I feel real excitement and also a deep sense of God’s calling to this role at this time.

“It’s a little overwhelming - but in a good way.”

Dr Sentamu, who is also chancellor of the University of Cumbria, said it was a “joy” to welcome Bishop Emma to her new role.

“My prayer is that Emma will be continually filled and led by the power of the Holy Spirit to share the life-transforming love of the Risen Lord Jesus, encouraging and empowering those she meets to do the same,” he added, ahead of the ceremony.

Bishop Emma’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the church in Cumbria as it works on a project to give every person in the county a chance to discover more about its mission by 2020.

The God for All initiative has already seen the creation of more than 30 new mission communities, while renewed focus is also being placed on developing new lay and ordained leaders to support churches.

Bishop Emma added: “It was God for All that stood out to me when I first saw the role of Bishop of Penrith; I remember thinking ‘That’s brilliant’. It’s a bold and exciting vision and I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s happening on the ground to make the Good News of Jesus known to as many people as possible.”

She was consecrated alongside the Ven Sarah Clark as Bishop of Jarrow. An official installation will take place at Carlisle Cathedral on March 17.

Bishop James said: “My prayer is that God richly blesses Emma’s ministry and she finds an abundance of spiritual support, love, care and encouragement to enable her to thrive in her work.”