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Barbara Wollaston obituary Canon Barbara Wollaston obituary
(6 days later)
My aunt Barbara Wollaston, who has died aged 84, was one of the first women to be ordained in the Church of England, having become a canon of Southwark Cathedral in 1994 shortly before she retired.My aunt Barbara Wollaston, who has died aged 84, was one of the first women to be ordained in the Church of England, having become a canon of Southwark Cathedral in 1994 shortly before she retired.
She was secretary to the Greater London Churches’ Consultative Group, women’s advisor to the Chelmsford diocese, and trained vicars at the University of Birmingham, before being made a deacon in 1987 – at the time the highest rank for women in the C of E. She worked at Southwark Cathedral from 1989 until her retirement, and her career in the church lasted for more than 40 years, continuing informally even into retirement.She was secretary to the Greater London Churches’ Consultative Group, women’s advisor to the Chelmsford diocese, and trained vicars at the University of Birmingham, before being made a deacon in 1987 – at the time the highest rank for women in the C of E. She worked at Southwark Cathedral from 1989 until her retirement, and her career in the church lasted for more than 40 years, continuing informally even into retirement.
The daughter of Maurice, a civil servant, and May (nee Farrow), a cook and housekeeper, Barbara was born in Teddington and grew up in Surbiton, attending Tiffin girls’ school in Kingston upon Thames. A woman of strong principles from an early age, her younger brother Ken is convinced to this day that she restricted his pocket money when they were evacuated during the war on the grounds (probably with justification) that he would waste it.The daughter of Maurice, a civil servant, and May (nee Farrow), a cook and housekeeper, Barbara was born in Teddington and grew up in Surbiton, attending Tiffin girls’ school in Kingston upon Thames. A woman of strong principles from an early age, her younger brother Ken is convinced to this day that she restricted his pocket money when they were evacuated during the war on the grounds (probably with justification) that he would waste it.
She left school at 16 to work in the public library in Surbiton and at 18, much to the consternation of her mother, decided that her vocation lay in the church. She trained at Gilmore House, a college for women in Clapham, south London, and in 1955 took up her first C of E post, in Clapham, fearlessly running church-based youth clubs singlehandedly. In her view it was nearly always down to the police when trouble occurred at any of her club evenings.She left school at 16 to work in the public library in Surbiton and at 18, much to the consternation of her mother, decided that her vocation lay in the church. She trained at Gilmore House, a college for women in Clapham, south London, and in 1955 took up her first C of E post, in Clapham, fearlessly running church-based youth clubs singlehandedly. In her view it was nearly always down to the police when trouble occurred at any of her club evenings.
She gained a sociology degree in the mid-1950s from the London School of Economics as a mature student, before joining a pioneering ecumenical project in Woolwich, south east London. After working with the Greater London Churches’ Consultative Group and the Chelmsford diocese, from 1980-1989 she was senior tutor in pastoral studies at the University of Birmingham’s Queen’s College, the first ecumenical school for the training of priests.She gained a sociology degree in the mid-1950s from the London School of Economics as a mature student, before joining a pioneering ecumenical project in Woolwich, south east London. After working with the Greater London Churches’ Consultative Group and the Chelmsford diocese, from 1980-1989 she was senior tutor in pastoral studies at the University of Birmingham’s Queen’s College, the first ecumenical school for the training of priests.
Barbara retired to Wem in Shropshire, where she continued to play an active role in the church, including by taking services in remote villages – to which she would drive in her car at such low speeds that she was once pulled over by the police for going too slowly. She enjoyed travelling in retirement, adding to her collection of cut glass decanters, porcelain shoes and nun figurines from different parts of the world.Barbara retired to Wem in Shropshire, where she continued to play an active role in the church, including by taking services in remote villages – to which she would drive in her car at such low speeds that she was once pulled over by the police for going too slowly. She enjoyed travelling in retirement, adding to her collection of cut glass decanters, porcelain shoes and nun figurines from different parts of the world.
Family was very important to her. She brought together Wollastons from all corners of the globe to mark the millennium celebrations, and never failed to remember the birthdays of her five nieces and three nephews. We will miss the words of wisdom and humour in her birthday and Christmas letters. A strong, independent woman who stood by her convictions, she was an inspiration to the next generation.Family was very important to her. She brought together Wollastons from all corners of the globe to mark the millennium celebrations, and never failed to remember the birthdays of her five nieces and three nephews. We will miss the words of wisdom and humour in her birthday and Christmas letters. A strong, independent woman who stood by her convictions, she was an inspiration to the next generation.
She is survived by her two brothers, Eric and Ken.She is survived by her two brothers, Eric and Ken.