New curate at St Andrew's, Dearnley keeps up the family tradition

The recently-ordained Rev Anne Gilbert is the new curate in the Rochdale-area benefice of Dearnley, Smallbridge and Wardle.

Rev Gilbert, aged 51, left a 29-year teaching career to take up a full-time role in the ministry of the Church of England.

Her first service will be a 9.30am Sung Eucharist at St Andrew's, Dearnley this Sunday 2 September, which will be attended by her proud father, the Rev Fred Gilbert, who was ordained 60 years ago and spent part of his ministry at another Rochdale Church, St Aidan's, Sudden.

Her brother is the Rev Canon Mark Gilbert of Chichester, while Mark's son, the Rev Sean Gilbert (Anne's nephew) is coming to the end of a curacy in St Leonard's-on-Sea.

"It's certainly a family affair", said Rev Gilbert, who was a teacher at Hathershaw for 25 years, specialising in religious education, before accepting her calling to serve God.

Before arriving in Oldham her early teaching posts were in Brecon (South Wales) and Uckfield in East Sussex.

She added: "It was a huge decision, but to say I'm excited about what lies ahead is an under-statement. As for my dad, well, he's absolutely thrilled and so, so proud.

"He's been wanting me to do this for years.

"Having said all that, it will seem weird not to be going in to Hathershaw on the first day of the new term. I've been there a long time. It was tough saying goodbye to everybody."

She has moved home from Grains Road, Shaw to Smallbridge where she will be working under the guidance of the Rev Rachel Battershell, incumbent at St Andrew's, Dearnley, and alongside two Lay Readers, Wendy Foote and Geoff Hurst.

Mr Hurst has returned to St Andrew's after working for more than two years in the benefice of Littleborough.

He said: "I enjoyed my time in Littleborough, but to be back at St Andrew's is like coming home; it's where the heart is."

All members of the congregation are invited to an open meeting of the St Andrew's Mothers Union on Monday 3 September at 7pm when Peter Shrigley, a church officer, will speak about life behind the scenes in the Health Service.

He spent his working life in the NHS, retiring several years ago as chief executive of Oldham NHS Trust.