THE Venerable Christine Hardman was consecrated as the Bishop of Newcastle, at York Minster, today (Monday, November 30)

Her consecration service was conducted by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, elevating the former Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, and now Honorary Assistant Priest at Southwark Cathedral, in London, as the 12th Bishop of Newcastle.

She was presented to the Archbishop by the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, and the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Frank White.

The preacher was the Right Reverend Dr Tom Butler, formerly Bishop of Southwark (1998-2010).

Dr Sentamu said: “I am delighted to welcome Christine Hardman to the Northern Province as the new Bishop of Newcastle.

“As Diocesan Bishop for the Diocese of Newcastle, Christine becomes the second female bishop to take a seat in the House of Lords.”

The 64-year-old BSc, in economics, who studied for a master’s degree in applied theology from Westminster College, Oxford, became a deaconess in 1984 and was ordained deacon, in 1987.

She was ordained Priest in 1994 and became a parish vicar in Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, 1996 and also Rural Dean of Stevenage in 1999.

She served as Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, from 2001 to 2012, and became the assistant priest at Southwark Cathedral, in 2012.

The Venerable Hardman, who has a special interest in mission studies and the social implications of the Gospel, has been a member of the General Synod since 1998, where a major area of her work has involved the legislation to allow women to become bishops.

A married mother-of-two daughters, she has four grandchildren.

She enjoys cycling, particularly bike tours in other countries and cultures, theatre and cinema, and has also been a keen runner for several years, completing the London Marathon and the Great North Run.

The Venerable Hardman succeeds the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, who resigned as bishop in November last year.