International Women's Day 2024

International Women's Day 2024

It was International Women's Day on Friday 8th March. Please find as follows some words from Ellen Butter about two of the women we are privileged to have as members of the Loggerheads Benefice Ministry team.

The Reverend Sara Humphries

Sara started her journey to the priesthood in 2013 and was ordained as a deacon in 2018 and as a priest in 2019. For the past eleven years, Sara has been a beacon of light in our church community. Very soon after being ordained, our benefice went into interregnum. This meant that we had no vicar and Sara stepped up to the mark and not only took care of the four churches in our benefice but introduced a more modern approach to faith.

Sara’s journey has not always been smooth, but she has overcome many challenges and as a Church, we are so proud and grateful of all the work she carries out; whilst still working a full-time job! Here’s a few words from Sara about her journey:

I feel very privileged to be serving as the Associate Minister in the Loggerheads Benefice, and grateful to the Church of England for providing my excellent training at Queens Theological College in Birmingham, which prepared me well for a life devoted to serving others. My journey to the priesthood has at times been eventful, however with the guidance and support of the wonderful people serving in all four of our churches in the benefice, I have grown into the priest I am today. I still wake up each morning and am reminded of the bounty of God's love when reciting the opening prayer from the Daily Office: "As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and forever, Amen".

The Reverend Dawn Walker

Dawn was ordained as a Deacon and in June 2023 will be ordained as a priest in June 2024; she is currently serving her curacy within our benefice. We feel very lucky to have Dawn as a part of the ministry team; she is kind, caring, and very understanding and brings a new dynamic to our church services.

And a word from Dawn:

Hello everyone, my name is Dawn I live in a little village called Chesterton which is on the outskirts of Newcastle. I live with my husband Chris, my dad George, and our one-year-old Springer Spaniel Penny. We have two grown-up children: our son Andrew, who is married to Becca, who currently lives in Sheffield, and then Emily, our daughter, who is married to Kristian, who lives approximately two miles away from us. I work for Severn Trent Water as an auditor, getting me out and about around the whole of Staffordshire, we are truly blessed with some fantastic countryside. During any spare time I get, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking Penny who loves going to the beach, and attending the local theatres to watch plays and musicals. May I ask for your prayers as I continue with the final preparations for my Priesting?