Oldest serving church warden dies

THE oldest serving churchwarden, Elizabeth Cross, died last month, aged 101. She served at St Michael’s, Sollers Hope, in Hereford diocese, as PCC secretary and churchwarden for 61 years. More than 150 people attended her funeral last week. The Vicar of the Stowcaple Benefice, which includes Sollers Hope, the Revd Crispin Pemberton, said: “We have been very blessed by Elizabeth’s remarkable enthusiasm, energy, and wisdom.”

Former priest found guilty of sexual assault on plane

A FORMER Priest-in-Charge of Longhorsley, in Northumberland, the Revd Peter McConnell, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an American student on a transatlantic flight. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr McConnell, who is 64, rubbed the man’s groin under a blanket on a flight from Philadelphia to Heathrow in March 2017. The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Ven. Dr Peter Robinson, said that he was “dismayed and distressed” at Mr McConnell’s actions. “At the time of the assault, Mr McConnell was not active as a priest and he has since retired from his role as Priest-in-Charge at Longhorsley.” Mr McConnell is due to be sentenced on 29 July.

Archbishop ordains his wife deacon

MARGARET SENTAMU was ordained deacon by her husband, the Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, on Sunday. She serves her title at St Chad’s, York, as an NSM. It is thought to be the first time that an archbishop has ordained a spouse. The diocese said that, “in view of her extensive experience and knowledge of the Church”, her training, at Cranmer Hall, Durham, would take place after her ordination, alongside her curacy. She told The Telegraph: “With my husband retiring next summer, it felt right to explore a calling.”