History in the making at Parish church

The Parish church of St Philip's Stubbins made history last week, when for the first time since the church was consecrated in 1927 a female minister has taken a communion service.

The Rev Audrey Kay 48, took the historic service on Sunday 24^th August after a long line of male predecessors. She has taken up the part-time voluntary post as Curate at St. Andrew's Church, Ramsbottom, as part of the recently formed Ramsbottom and Edenfield Team Ministry which comprises the parishes of St Andrew, St John and St Paul Ramsbottom, St Philip Stubbins and Edenfield Parish Church.

Audrey, who is originally from Bolton, began her training in 2004 at the Northern Ordination Course, in Manchester, and was ordained Deacon in July 2007 at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Bolton, the Rt. Rev. David Gillett.  She was Priested the following June, by the newly appointed Bishop of Bolton, the Rt. Rev. Chris Edmondson.

Mrs. Kay said: ‘When my son was just one year old I had a powerful vision through which, I felt God was leading me to the church, and for the past 18 years I have been exploring ordained ministry. Over that time God has been gently nudging, encouraging and refining me and although there have been set-backs along the way, I believe God has strengthened me and developed my character. By the time I began my training in 2004 I felt that God was preparing me spiritually, emotionally and physically, so that I was in the best place possible prior to my ordination.'

More women than men are being ordained as clergy in the Church of England for the first time since the introduction of women priests in 1994. While women can be ordained as priests, as yet canon law does not allow them to be elected to the higher office of bishop.

Mrs Kay lives in Radcliffe and has been married to her husband Nick for the past 27 years. They have one son, Chris who is 23 and a 19-year-old daughter, Gemma.

Since the successful Ramsbottom and Edenfield Team Ministry was established there has been a move to plan joint activities between the different churches and a bond has been established between the member churches. There is now a team web-site http://www.retm.co.uk/ giving details of the activities of all the 5 churches, the ‘Team Times' magazine is published bi-monthly and a Team week of prayer is planned for week commencing 8^th September.