New C of E priests to work in the Borough

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Two new C of E priests, Renate (Natty) Katharina Gray and Michael Scott Howarth, will both be joining churches in Rochdale.

Both Michael and Renate were ordained at Bolton Parish Church (Saint Peter) on Sunday 30 June and will now start work in their respective churches.

Michael, who is a chemist by trade, started working closely in the church after his retirement. He originally trained as a Reader, which is a role that involved duties as a assistant minister, except baptisms and marriages. As a Reader, Michael worked at Holy Trinity in Littleborough with Reverend John McGrath.

Michael said about his work after retirement: “I thought I should be doing more ministry work and more time serving God. I needed to go one step further.”

Revd John McGrath then convinced Michael to take the opportunity to become an ordained minister. Michael added: “I went on what you could describe as a fast track course over a year and got ordained in Bolton.”

With his new role, Michael hopes to serve the local community of Dearnley St Andrew with Revd Canon Sharon Jones. “I think I will be doing normal tasks including leading worship, preaching and looking after people. I’m looking forward to getting to know the people of Dearnely and Wardle”, said Michael.

Renate Gray, who is an Ordained Local Minister (OLM), will focus her work on the local community. She will continue working in the Deeplish and Newbold Benefice with the Revd Dr Stephen Watkinson.

Mary Price, church warden for Saint Peter, Newbold, said: “An OLM is not your full time job so as well as that, Natty works as a PA. She has been working with the church for a long time and has been working during her training.”