Double dose of girl power for Rillington (From Gazette & Herald)

Double dose of girl power for Rillington

A RYEDALE church saw not one but two of its parishioners ordained to the clergy at York Minster last weekend - and it was a case of girl power.

Judy Duke and Lynn Grove, of St Andrew's in Rillington, were two of only 17 clergy to be ordained in North Yorkshire this year, at a special service given by the Rt Rev David Hope, Archbishop of York.

The vicar of the benefice of Buckrose Carrs, which includes Rillington, the Rev Christopher Hayes, said: "It is wonderful. It is rare to have two people from the same church ordained, especially a rural church, as they often come from towns and cities.

"The village can be very pleased that we have raised up two clergy from this area."

The benefice already has a female curate, Jo Oliver. Judy, who has been working as a lay pastoral minister at Buckrose Carrs, has now become assistant curate there.

Lynn, meanwhile, has taken up the role of assistant curate at the church of St Peter and St Paul in Pickering.

The duo completed their studies at Cramner Hall, Durham, and ordination as deacons means they are now able to take baptism services.

Both women have lived in Rillington for most of their lives and have played central parts in the life of the community. Judy worked for 20 years in the village post office and Lynn was a GP in the village.

Lynn said: "I was confirmed and married here and my children and grandson was baptised here. Even as a doctor, I was always interested in the whole person, the roles are not all that different really."

Judy applied to train for the clergy when women were first allowed in 1993, but was unsuccessful. Later, when the bishop asked her if she would re-apply, she meant to say yes. "I opened my mouth to say yes and what came out was 'no - the church needs me too much', I think that was God speaking."

But eventually she was persuaded and the two women may have made history at the Minster on Sunday. A spokesman for the diocese of York, Martin Shepherd, said: "It is extremely unusual and probably unprecedented in the diocese of York for two women from the same church to be ordained deacon at the same time.

"It must have been a great day to celebrate for Rillington."

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, June 30, 2004