Hull welcomes second woman bishop Alison White

The new Bishop of Hull gave her first sermon at Holy Trinity Church

The second female bishop in the Church of England has been welcomed in Hull at a special service.

The Rt Rev Alison White gave her first sermon in a service attended by 450 people at Hull's Holy Trinity Church.

Afterwards Bishop White said: "It was just fantastic. I can't believe so many people would come on a Monday night.

She was consecrated as the Bishop of Hull during a ceremony led by Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu at York Minster on Friday.

'Sea of faces'

Representatives and clergy from churches across Hull and the East Riding welcomed the 58-year-old new bishop to the area.

Bishop White said she was "looking forward to getting to know" her congregation.

"At the moment it's just a sea of faces. I don't know names, I don't know their stories, I don't know their places yet but that's the fun of it. That's the real joy and the adventure and the challenge..."

She and her husband, Bishop Frank White, are the UK's first husband and wife bishop partnership.

The Church formally adopted legislation last November to allow women bishop.