Black deacon’s battle to save parish

THE FIRST black woman to become a deacon in the Church of England has spoken of her desire to serve her parish as she fights to save her job and home.

The Reverend Yvonne Clarke, a mother-of-three who became a deacon in March 1987, was also among the first women to be ordained when she became a priest in 1994.

In the face of a battle to continue her work in the south London parish of All Saints Shirley, in Southwark Diocese, she said: “I feel no-one has consulted with me about my future here in an appropriate way.”

Her current parish would disappear under plans submitted to the Church Commissioners to cut financial pressures, but she has won a small breakthrough in being allowed to make a plea at an oral hearing, her solicitors have said.

Having served All Saints since 1998, it is the place where the Rev Clarke “would like to see out” her ministry.

She said: “I feel no-one has consulted with me about my future here in an appropriate way. Instead, I have been informed about what will happen to me, that the changes will mean I lose my vocation and my home.”

Her lawyers, Leigh Day solicitors, said a hearing is set to be held in April despite a belief that the Church Commissioners will only look at paper evidence to decide the future of All Saints Shirley.

The Diocese of Southwark confirmed it has proposed to the Church Commissioners that All Saints, Spring Park, be dissolved and divided between parishes.

It is suggested the current church of All Saints, Spring Park, becomes a chapel of ease for use by those who live some distance from the parish church.

The church building should be kept for the community.