Although Betty was not ordained a deacon until 3rd October 1993, she was a Sunday School teacher from the time of her confirmation until July 1984, 45 years later. For the majority of those years Betty was in charge of the Sunday School and she voluntarily went on a training course after a few years, treating those responsibilities as she did her professional ones in hospital management. As a result she brought to her teaching a wealth of interest and understanding previously little known in voluntary teaching. It became an expression of God's calling which she had long felt was to ordination, not then considered open to women.

The dedication which Betty put into her Sunday School teaching carried her through until other openings occurred, first helping the Hospital Chaplain at Springfield and then, after taking a lay readers' course, being licensed to the Chaplain in October 1990.

Betty then took the next step towards ordination after the decision that the ministry could accept women. This was not without a struggle, as she was nearer to retiring age than was usual for candidates.

Her ordination as deacon in October 1993 and as priest in October 1994, followed in the Diocese of Southwark, where she was licensed to the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Wandsworth Common. Happily for us in Hampton Hill it wasn't too long before Betty's licence was transferred to St. James's Church, where she had first felt called to her Christian ministry.

She has undertaken her work with tact and sympathy and has been instrumental in bringing about a change of heart in several people who had originally been opposed to the ordination of women. The unexpected deterioration of her eyesight and the onset of arthritis have hastened her retirement, but Betty remains a priest and can still preach and take services. We are all grateful for the loving care and effort which she has put into everything she has done, for which we say a heartfelt 'Thank you Betty'.

Source: Jean Western, The Spire Magazine - 2001 January