Our New Rector

We are pleased to announce that a new Rector has been appointed and will be with us later on this year. Here is the article Alison Battye provided for the August/ September edition of Adel Bells

Dear Friends
I am delighted, and excited that I will be joining you in the autumn as Rector of Adel. I look forward to meeting and getting to know members of the church and wider community, but in the meantime here is a little about me.

I feel very privileged to have lived all my life in Yorkshire – being born in Sheffield, growing up on Teesside, and living all my working life in Leeds. Until my ordination 3 years ago, I worked as a teacher. My first job was at Garforth Comprehensive School as a science teacher. I gave up paid work when our two children arrived. After 7 years as a full time Mum, I went back to work at Manston St James primary school, so I have taught every age from 4 – adult. I loved teaching, especially the contact with young people and the creativity involved.

I am a ‘cradle Anglican’, and have been heavily involved in church life since I was a child. For most of this time I’ve sung in church choirs and also played the flute with church music groups.

For the last 3 years I have been curate in the parish of Whitkirk, which has been a happy and fulfilling time. I have been particularly involved with children and young people, both in the local primary schools and in setting up a church group. It has also been good to be involved in the community through many funerals, weddings and baptisms.

I am married to Peter, and we have a son and a daughter, both young adults and both working. As a family, and as a couple, we have always enjoyed walking. I also love bird watching, although I am very much a beginner at this. I enjoy running (slowly), reading, and sing with the Heritage Singers when work allows.

From what I have seen, Adel is a community with lots going on and Adel church is an important part of this. I hope we can build on these links. The book I am reading at present gave this description of the Christian life: ‘an adventure, a voyage of discovery, a journey sustained by faith and hope, towards a final and complete communion with the Love at the heart of all things.’ I look forward to sharing that journey with you in the years to come.

With love and prayers
Alison