St Andrew’s Church to welcome Reverend Catherine Binns as associate priest

St Andrew’s Church at Dearnley will welcome Reverend Catherine Binns as its associate priest in October.

Revd Binns will join the church's ministry team as associate priest, working part time in a team, led by the Revd Rachel Battershell, delivering pastoral and spiritual care to the Anglican community across Dearnley, Smithy Bridge, Smallbridge and Wardle.

Revd Binns joins the St Andrew's ministry team at her licensing and welcome service on the evening of Sunday 17 October.

She brings a wealth of experience as an associate priest, having been ordained 14 years ago while working full time as a specialist surgical neonatal nurse at Manchester's St Mary’s hospital and a C of E minister in secular employment.

She moved to The Royal Bolton Hospital in August, 2015 when she became full time Deputy Head Chaplain and she continues to maintain her registration as a nurse. She works closely with the neonatal and maternity units, especially supporting bereaved parents and providing pastoral and spiritual care.

Brought up in North Manchester, she went to The Bluecoat School in Oldham and started her nurse training exactly 30 years ago.

With a nursing degree and a nursing diploma on her CV, she's worked at Pendlebury Children's Hospital, The Royal Oldham and then, for 18 years, at St Mary's as a neonatal surgical nurse.

Her call to ordination came from her experiences with both sick and critically ill babies and their parents, plus what she saw at first hand during a three-week missionary visit to China in 1999.

Revd Binns, who sings in the hospital staff's choir, said: "Dealing with bereaved families who had lost babies had a profound effect on me and as soon as I was able, I found myself baptising infants, leading prayers for them and even taking funerals.”

Married to cricket fan and Rochdale AFC supporter Alan, and living in Littleborough for the past three years, she can often be seen out and about with her camera, photographing wildlife and landscapes.

The Reverend added: “My chaplaincy in Bolton will always come first, but beyond that I'll give my St Andrew's role everything I've got and I'm really looking forward to it."

 

 

On a different theme, Emma-Jayne Richardson has been authorised in Manchester Cathedral to be St Andrew's first-ever lay minister for parish administration.

"I've been training at home on Zoom, an hour each week, since last September," said Emma, who received a blessing from the Bishop in the Cathedral last Sunday.

And the church's harvest open day on Saturday 25 September raised £250 for church funds – a great financial return – and Revd Battershell thanks everyone who assisted and all those who attended.

Donations of Christmas selection boxes will be going this year to Rochdale Foodbank, which is always in need of tinned or long-life food, apart from pasta.