Hello! I’m Mel, or Rev’d Mel and it is my privilege to be the Rector of the Walgrave Benefice. 

 

My husband, Rob and I, along with our two dogs, Willow and Fern, live at the Rectory in Walgrave. 

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I am born and bred in Northamptonshire and have had a life-long faith in God. That faith has sustained and guided me throughout my life and it brings me profound joy and deep seated peace which the world cannot give. I believe that each and everyone of us is loved unconditionally by God. 

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Before ordination, I worked as a residential property lawyer for over 20 years, with a brief period as an in-house lawyer at a large national charity. I have a BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission and I’m currently studying for a masters in Canon Law (a.k.a. Church law). 

 

Outside of ministry, I enjoy gardening, walking our dogs and renovating houses with Rob. I’m also an avid listener of audiobooks. 

 

Whether you are a regular church-goer, a person of faith who doesn’t have much faith in the institutional church, someone who comes to church on the odd occasion or a confirmed atheist, I look forward to meeting you.

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Alex writes:

 

My name is Alexandra Elston, and I have lived in Old with my son Ben for twenty years. We are lucky enough to live in the Townson Close community, where we have been supported by Old Parish Charities.

 

I became a Christian after asking God to save my brother at the Hillsborough disaster. I've been a Reader since 2014 and was licensed a few months after my husband died suddenly from a stroke. I'm also a primary teacher and a cricket coach. Cricket is a huge part of our family life, as are animals.

 

I look forward to meeting you in one of our wonderful churches.

I am a Church Warden and Lay Worship leader at St Peters Church in Walgrave. I have worshipped there for a little over 15 years and have lived in Walgrave for 17 years. My faith has supported me in all our good and not so good times and it remains core to my everyday life. 

 

I have a lovely husband Rob and am Mum to our big son Matthew and Mummy to our littler son William. Matthew has blessed us with twin grandchildren Isabella and Louie. As a family we are either in Church or the pub in Walgrave both are second homes to us!! 

 

Alfie, our dog, is another member of our family. He is the shouty dog up the alley way off Rectory Lane