Rev Catherine Ogle shares her memories of Huddersfield before her move to Birmingham

Jun 28 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The Rev Canon Catherine Ogle has overseen many changes at Huddersfield Parish Church over the past nine years. As Vicar of Huddersfield she has led regeneration of the church and forged links with other faiths. Ahead of her move to Birmingham, Catherine writes of her time in Huddersfield and looks forward to pastures new.

I KNEW that I wanted to come and be Vicar here the first time that I walked into Huddersfield Parish Church.

It’s a building with real warmth, a large and awe-inspiring space, in which years of prayer have made the atmosphere comfortable and welcoming.

That was over nine years ago and in those days a woman taking on the role of Vicar of Huddersfield was a newsworthy event – I still have a framed copy of the Huddersfield Examiner story I saw outside a newsagent, ‘Woman is new Vicar of Hudds’. I went inside the shop, explained that I was the woman in question and they kindly gave me a copy.

When I went to train for Ministry in the Church of England, aged just 24, women’s role in the church was a hotly contested issue.

I’ve since had the privilege of being in the vanguard of the historic changes – the first women to be ordained deacon and then eventually priest, and the first to be allowed to take on parishes and minister as Vicars.

But I’m really glad that during my nine years in Huddersfield all this has changed and women clergy have become just ‘normal’. No-one remarks about it anymore, the gender of a priest isn’t cause for comment anymore than the gender of a doctor or bus driver – and it’s great being just normal.

Now, after nine years in Huddersfield, I am moving on to be Dean of Birmingham, based in the Cathedral and working as part of the Bishop of Birmingham’s senior staff.

One thing this means is that gender is significant again. I will be only the third woman Dean out of about 40 Deans of Cathedrals in the country – Salisbury and Leicester have women as Deans, and since my appointment a fourth has been announced in Bury St Edmunds.

The Church of England isn’t exactly revolutionary, but so much has changed even in my working life, I am sure that I’ll see many more women Deans come along – and women bishops too.

I’ve loved living and working here and have relished my time as Vicar of Huddersfield.

These are a few of my favourite things:

? The town centre churches working together – this sometimes comes as a surprise to people who think that the churches don’t get on or that they are in competition with each other.

In Huddersfield town centre we have strong friendships and a great working relationship.

The fact that there are different Christian expressions of the one faith is good because it means that everyone can find a church where they can be at home, whether Cof E or Pentecostal, Roman Catholic or Salvation Army. Each church has its own work and specialities and there are also significant shared projects such as ‘Street Angels’.

? The faith communities working together – this comes as an even greater surprise to people who think that the faiths are in competition – or even conflict – with each other.

Huddersfield has a fine tradition of interfaith co-operation and friendship and excellence in provision of RE opportunities for schools.