Diane Barrett Ordained

DIANE BARRETT is being ordained on Sunday (June 27) at Manchester Cathedral.
She will be an Ordained Local Minister attached to Lostock and St Bede's, Morris Green..
Here she tells us about the Southern North West Training Partnership (SNWTP) course and herself:

About half the students studying are training for ordination and half for lay ministries of varying kinds, which takes between two and six years.
The studies continue on for another three years but not as intensely (thank goodness) because hopefully I will be learning through work as a Curate. Phew!!
I was born in Chorley moved to Horwich and came to Bolton when I married Chris and started training as a nurse and later taking time out to have a family. We have three daughters and three grandchildren.
I’m retired from nursing now but have many special memories of working with the elderly and also as Marie Curie nurse; it was a very important part of my life.
My first real experience of Church was when I was 13 and confirmed at St Catherine’s, Horwich, but sadly it just seemed a process I went through with not a lot of meaning. I was more concerned about the big spot I had at the end of my nose! By the way there is still a picture of my Confirmation Group in the vestry at St Catherine’s and I can still see the spot!!
Really my time and heart was more taken up with stage dancing and singing, not that dancing and singing couldn’t be used in church because I used to help with their pantomimes! and later in my “slimmer days” sacred dance!
The start of my journey with God, leading me to become a Christian, was having our eldest daughter baptised but when I look back I can see other pointers as well.
We started going to St Peter’s, Halliwell, and I became involved in leading a “Pram Group” Bible Groups, singing and serving in different ways and eventually doing three years Reader Training. It was an exciting time.
After a long time at St Peters, I went lending a hand at Christ Church, Ainsworth, as a Reader and I was there for six years and I started training for OLM. Christ Church is a lovely church but as they are joining with Radcliffe it’s too far a distance to travel also the vicar has retired which makes supervision difficult.
I had never been in St Thomas and St John until I came last December; how beautiful it looked all ready for Christmas and the amazing Community Centre, such a help to young mums and many others. It was also interesting going to St Bede’s too because it just reminded me of St Catharine’s, Horwich, my first Church, in fact there was a lady there I used to sing with in my youth.
I’m looking forward to getting to know you, sharing with you in fellowship and the love of Christ. As the Christian Church we have such a lot to offer. I agree with Bill Hybels from Willow Creek, through Christ the Church is the hope of the world.
Love Diane B

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Date Entered: 29 June 2010