Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Libby Lane, the Church of England’s first female bishop, has revealed that she is a Strictly Come Dancing fan who uses dance steps to explain her relationship with God.
The Right Rev Lane, who was ordained as the Bishop of Stockport in January, said that dancing helps inform her understanding of incarnation – the doctrine of God assuming human form.
She told the Radio Times that her love of dance remains – she never misses Strictly – and she still uses her dance training to help her “inhabit” the Bible stories, for example the crucifixion and the resurrection.
Bishop Lane, 48, took up dance as a schoolgirl in Glossop but instead of pursuing a career on stage she ended up studying theology at Oxford.
Show all 107 1 /107Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha's final dance was a Charleston to “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants
PA
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie and Kevin performed a fiery paso doble to the West Side Story tune “America”
PA
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff danced to A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley
PA
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright and his partner Karen Hauer danced the cha-cha-cha to I'm Your Man by Wham!
PA
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake and Janette performed The Viennese Waltz to ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ by Percy Sledge and The Cha Cha to ‘Boogie Shoes’ by KC and the Sunshine Band this weekend
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark and Karen performed The Rumba to Eva Cassidy’s version of ‘Fields of Gold’ and The Viennese Waltz to ‘I Got You Babe’ by Sonny and Cher this weekend
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha performed The Salsa to ‘Maria’ by Ricky Martin and The Foxtrot to Josef Salvat’s version of ‘Diamonds’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie and Kevin performed The Argentine Tango to ‘The 5th’ by David Garrett and The Rumba to Lily Allen’s version of ‘Somewhere Only We Know’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon and Kristina performed The Foxtrot to ‘My Guy’ by Mary Wells and The Samba to ‘I Like To Move It’ by Reel 2 Real this weekend at Strictly Come Dancing
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline Flack's salsa saw her score the first perfect ten of the series
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake and Janette perform the Charleston to ‘Entry of the Gladiators’ by Ken Griffin’s Circus Band
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark and Karen perform Foxtrot to ‘L-O-V-E’ by Nat King Cole
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon and Kristina perform the American Smooth to ‘Heartache Tonight’ by Michael Buble
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha perform the Argentine Tango to the Traditional Version of ‘La Cumparsita’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie and Trent dance the Cha Cha to the Glee Cast version of ‘Love Shack’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon and Kristina perform the American Smooth to ‘Heartache Tonight’ by Michael Buble
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha perform Charleston to They Might Be Giant’s version of 'Istanbul'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Brendan Cole and Sunetra Sarker perform the Rumba to Michael Bolton’s version of 'Girl From Ipanema'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake Wood and Janette Manrara perform the Argentine Tango to 'Zorba The Greek'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake Wood and Janette Manrara perform the Argentine Tango to 'Zorba The Greek'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright and Karen Hauer perform the Salsa to ‘Viva Las Vegas' by Elvis Presley
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon perform the Viennese Waltz to 'Tulips From Amsterdam' by Max Bygraves
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers and Bolly Flex
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff perform the Waltz to 'Edelweiss' from The Sound of Music
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton will be performing the Jive to ‘Surfin’ USA’ by The Beach Boys
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie and Kevin perform the Viennese Waltz to Tom Jones’ ‘What’s new Pussycat?'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon and Kristina dance Salsa to ‘Let’s Hear For The Boy’ by Deniece Williams
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake and Janette dance Samba to the ‘Macarena’ by Los Del Rio
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark and Karen dance Tango to OneRepublic's ‘Love Runs Out’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie and Trent Charleston to ‘Sparkling Diamonds’ as sung by Nicole Kidman in the film 'Moulin Rouge'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Steve and Ola are Jiving to Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers version of 'Little Bitty Pretty One'
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha perform the American Smooth Robbie Williams’ version of ‘Mack the Knife’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Sunetra and Brendan Waltzing to Paolo Nutini’s ‘Last Request’
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Judy Murray dances the Viennese Waltz
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie Lott performs the Paso Doble
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline Flack dances the Jive
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon Webbe performs at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon and Kristina perform the Quickstep to I Got Rhythm by Bobby Darin
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright and Karen perform Waltz to Weekend in New England by Barry Manilow
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake and Janette perform the Rumba to Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie and Kevin dance the Samba to La Bamba by Connie Francis
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie and Trent perform the Foxtrot to When I'm Sixty Four by The Beatles
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Sunetra and Brendan perform to Foxtrot to All of Me by John Legend
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline and Pasha perform the Waltz to Three Times a Lady by The Commodores
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Steve and Ola perform Paso to Use Somebody by Kings of Leon
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Judy and Anton perform the Paso to I Fought the Law by The Clash
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The Strictly professional dancers perform during the results show on Sunday
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The dancers look scared - have they just seen the judges?
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The dancers get their freak on for Halloween Week
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Scott and Joanne perform The Foxtrot to The Addams Family Theme
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake and Janette perform The Paso Doble to ‘Black Betty’ by Ram Jam
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Kristina Rihanoff and Simon Webbe perform The Paso Doble to ‘Poison’ by Alice Cooper
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Steve Backshall performs The Charleston to ‘Dem Bones Dem Bones’ by Kay Starr
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie and Kevin perform The Tango to ‘Defying Gravity’ from the musical Wicked
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack perform The Samba to ‘Le Freak’ by Chic
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Sunetra and Brendan perform The Jive to ‘Tainted Love’ by Gloria Jones
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Alison and Aljaz perform The American Smooth to ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Kate Bush
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie and Trent performing The Tango to ‘Danger! High Voltage’ by Electric Six
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Judy and Anton performing The American Smooth to ‘Cruella De Vil’ from the film 101 Dalmatians
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Karen Hauer and Mark Wright perform The Jive to ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ from the musical of the same name
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Things are getting spooky this week on Strictly
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon Webbe with Kristina Rihanoff
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Karen Hauer and Mark Wright shake it on Strictly Come Dancing
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Aljaz Skorjanec dances with Alison Hammond
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline Flack dances with Pasha Kovale
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton are full of energy on the stage
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jake Wood dances with Janette Manrara
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Brendan Cole partners with Sunetra Sarker
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute do the Cha Cha
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Kevin Clifton and Frankie Bridge
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Dancers take to the stage on Strictly Come Dancing
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Judy Murray dances with Anton Du Beke
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Steve Backshall dances with Ola Jordan
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie Lott dances the Samba with Trent Whiddon
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Bargain Hunt's Tim Wonnacott is voted off Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Bargain Hunt's Tim Wonnacott leaves Strictly Come Dancing after his pasodoble
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright and Karen Hauer await the results of the dance-off alongside Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Lowe
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing's professional dancers take to the floor
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline Flack dances with Pasha Kovalev on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Soap star Jake Wood dances with Janette Manrara on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Former rugby international Thom Evans dances with Iveta Lukosiute
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole perform an energetic routine on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Tim Wonnacott dances the pasodoble with Natalie Lowe on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pop singer Pixie Lott dances with Trent Whiddon on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly dress up to present Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan try a daring lift on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge dances with Kevin Clifton on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills dances with Joanne Clifton on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Alison Hammond and Aljaz Skorjanec take to the dancefloor on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Blue's Simon Webbe dances with Kristina Rihanoff on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Judy Murray demonstrates her newfound dancing skills with professional partner Anton Du Beke
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright dances with Karen Hauer on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett perform on the Strictly Come Dancing results show
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers take to the stage
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Mark Wright dances with Karen Hauer
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers take to the stage
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Jennifer Gibney and partner Tristan MacManus
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Thom Evans dances with Iveta Lukosiute
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Frankie Bridge dances with Kevin Clifton
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Pixie Lott dances with Trent Whiddon
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Scott Mills dances with Joanne Clifton
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Scott Mills dances with Joanne Clifton
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Sunetra Sarker dances with Brendan Cole
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Caroline Flack dances with Pasha Kovalev
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Tim Wonnacott dances with Natalie Lowe
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Simon Webbe dances with Kristina Rihanoff
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Alison Hammond dances with partner Aljaz Skorjanec
BBC
During a service, she said she engages with the words not just with her mind but with her body. “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,” she told the magazine.
The saxophone-playing bishop stopped dancing when she realised she would not be able to do it at a professional level.
Bishop Lane said: “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.”
“I’m pushing 50 now, but I still dance on the inside. I don’t do much dancing on the outside any more, but my soul still dances on the inside,” she added.
Bishop Lane’s elevation was confirmed just a month after Church leaders made a historic vote to allow women into the episcopate.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies