Marie Pattison will is to be ordained deacon on Sunday and will serve in the benefice of Walkden and Little Hulton.
She said: "When I originally went to the Vocation Director’s office I was absolutely not enquiring about the priesthood. I was coming to the end of my time as a churchwarden and I wanted to explore ways I could be useful to my own church, maybe as an Authorised Lay Ministry or a Reader. I loved my job working in retreats, helping people with their prayer life, organising bible study and theological engagement and wasn’t looking to change it.
"After a few conversations along the lines of 'No, leave me alone, I have a job I like perfectly well, thank you very much!' he asked me to go away and just make sure God wasn’t called calling me to be a priest. Spoilers: That did not work out the way I was expecting. If you tell God you’ll do whatever God wants, you must be prepared for the consequences!
"And so I found myself moving to Durham in the middle of a global pandemic to study for the priesthood and an MA. Living in halls of residence in my 40s has had its challenges. I’d never lived as close to my mam in my adult life, and she may as well have been on the moon for much of my training because of the Covid restrictions. For the first year, many lectures only happened on screen and my social life was limited to 15 people I had not chosen – and walks by the river with one person at a distance.
"My second year has been more fruitful, I have been able to enjoy summer placements with wonderful churches and properly engage with placements in the local community. I was the second woman ever to preach in a lovely rural church where I believe my mining ancestors were married.
"I’m hugely looking forward to moving back to Salford and getting to know folks in my new parishes, supporting them, celebrating with them and praying with them."