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Martine Oborne at St Mary’s Church |
At your service: New deacon Martine lends a hand at the Angel
MARTINE Oborne was this week appointed Church of England deacon, one step before becoming a priest.
The mother of five, who is married to Highbury newspaper columnist Peter, and former Conservative candidate in local elections, is currently helping with services at St Mary’s Church in Upper Street, Angel.
The previous vicar, Canon Dr Graham Kings, has moved after being appointed a bishop in the west country.
A lay minister at Christchurch, Highbury, for many years, Martine hopes to be ordained next year.
A former children’s writer and supporter of small shops, Martine has also campaigned vigorously for the city academy St Mary Magdalene at Holloway where she is a governor.
Martine said: “Women priests may be perfectly acceptable in Islington but there is still hostility in some places."
The first women bishops are being introduced by the CofE in 2011-12. Would she be interested?
Martine added: ”As Boris Johnson is fond of saying, ‘if I’m called from my plough. Maybe.’”
She admits that some of her five children are more regular church-goers than others – but Peter attends with her and is very supportive.
“There’s huge amount of value to be found in Christianity,” she added.”
It has a really important part to play today in being an antidote to all the selfishness, greed and consumerism which seems to have afflicted society.
“This manifests itself in people, for example, not being committed to relationships in good times as well as bad.
“The great things about Christianity is how it helps you to look at other people and really stop you thinking about yourself all the time.” |
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