Middleton churches welcome first ever female rector

New Rector, Reverend Alison Bailie

The churches of St Leonard's Middleton and St John Thornham have a new rector.

Reverend Alison Bailie was installed in July and becomes the first female rector in the long history of St Leonards, where the list of rectors goes back as far as the 1100s.

Alison comes to Middleton and Thornham from St Mary’s Church Droylsden, where she had been rector for 14 years.

Born in Northern Ireland, she studied law in England, before becoming a solicitor in London until she decided to go into church ministry.

As well as her Parish duties, Revd Bailie will also continue as an Associate Diocesan Director of Ordinands for the Rochdale Archdeaconry, which entails helping people who are considering entering Church Ministry.

Alison loves walking and has done many walking holidays both in UK and abroad, as well as a pilgrimage walk from Winchester to Canterbury.

She said: "I am looking forward to meeting people from both St Leonard's and St John's communities and hope to work with and support other churches and communities in the local area."