The Ministry Team
Rev. Dr. Alan Bartlett MA PhD, Vicar of St. Giles' and Priest in Charge of St. Cuthbert's Shadforth and St. Mary's Sherburn.
Alan was born in 1958, in Dublin, but as with many of his family, emigrated to England for work. (He was only 18 months – it was his Dad who worked !) He remains a passionate supporter of Ireland in all things sporting (except cricket for obvious reasons…)
Growing up in London and Surrey, he went to university in Cambridge and studied history. During his t
ime there he started doing youth work in Bermondsey, in inner South East London, and so after Cambridge he went to live and work there, combining doctoral research, on the historic mission of the churches, with youth and housing work.
Answering God’s call, very hesitantly, he came north to Durham to train as an Anglican priest. Having set his heart on serving in inner London, he was very surprised to find himself as a curate in West Newcastle. But he, and the family loved it and so we have stayed “up north”.
Alan served as curate at Holy Cross, Fenham and in the Newburn Team (based in Throckley) before returning to Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, Durham as a member of staff helping to train Anglicans, Methodists and Roman Catholics for ministry. His job at Cranmer Hall changed over time, (he spent more time towards the end providing in-service training to serving ministers), but in the end the call to return to parish ministry became too great and he was delighted to be appointed as Vicar of St Giles and Priest in Charge of Sherburn and Shadforth in November 2008.
Alan continues to do some writing, teaching and supervising for the University, (he is Cranmer Visiting Fellow in Anglican Studies at St John’s College), but his main work is now in our parishes. His priorities are to see the three churches growing in faith, in numbers and in the service we can offer to our communities.
He is married to Helen, who is on the staff of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham, and they have two children, Ben (at university in York) and Annie at school in Durham.
Rev. Eileen Tarren
Rev. Ruth Thomas is Curate of St Giles', St. Mary's and St. Cuthbert's.
Ruth grew up in London, where her father was a Vicar, and then went to York University to study Music. She has had a varied professional career, including teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools and, later, becoming Head of Music Education at Durham University where she was responsible for training Secondary School Music Teachers.
Her publications include an influential book on Composing (Cambridge University Press), and she acted as Music Education Adviser to The Sage in Gateshead. Ruth has a severe and permanent neck injury which led to her retirement from her academic post.
She was ordained in 2009. She has lived in St Giles’ parish for over 20 years with her husband Barry and their two children, William and Megan.
Rev. Dorothy Wilson
In 1954 I came from my home in Guernsey in the Channel Islands to Durham to study theology. Having come I never managed to get away. I married and had three children and now have four grandsons.
While t
eaching, I felt called to the Diaconate and was ordained Deacon in 1988 and licensed to St. Giles' as a non stipendary minister. When we bought the house at the top of Gilesgate Bank in 1958, I had no idea I would be working in St. Giles' Church!
I love Durham and this parish. I am grateful for all the kindness I have received. The people of St. Giles' are welcoming and warm hearted and we enjoy worship that can be both reverent and inspiring.
My last two years of ministry were at St. Cuthbert's, Shadforth. It was a very happy time and I still remember the community of the church and the village for the way they worked so well together.
I have a very long, untidy garden with a bridge over a little stream. I love growing vegetables and trying to outwit marauding rabbits! I enjoy hill walking, playing friendly bridge and doing crossword puzzles.
I retired reluctantly in 2005 but I continue to work as a hospital chaplain and I am very glad that Alan sometimes invites me to minister in St. Giles'. For any help I have given I have received double in kindness.