Meet the clergy!

In November 2025, we said farewell to our Vicar - Rev’d Sarah O’Donoghue - who has moved to another role in the Diocese of Blackburn. We are currently in a period of Interregnum as preparations for the installation of a new Vicar are underway. During this period, Rev’d Graham Rutter and Rev’d Janet Robert are leading our church. See below for short biographies for Graham and Janet. 

On June 15, 2025, the following announcement from Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley, Sefton and West Lancashire was shared: 

“I am very pleased to be able to announce that Rev’d Ian Greenwood has been appointed as Vicar of Christ Church Aughton. He is currently vicar of St Anne’s in Aigburth in Liverpool but before that was curate at St John’s Burscough and before that worshipped at St Paul’s Skelmersdale and so knows Ormskirk deanery very well.

The interview panel were delighted to meet him and hear his passion for the growth of the church and his experience of Leading Your Church into Growth. They feel that he will fit the requirements of the parish profile very well. I am very grateful to the parish representatives, Peter Stewart and Lawrence Abernethy, the patron Rev Andrew Housely and the Area Dean Chris Spittle and deanery lay representative Clare Glynn for all the time they have given to this discernment process. Thank you for your prayers during this time and I look forward to commending him to you at his licensing service which we hope will be in September.”

And a message from the Rev’d Ian Greenwood was also shared:

‘We are very excited about joining you in Christ Church Aughton and are really looking forward to all that God has in store for us, as together we seek to grow His church and grow in our relationships with one another and with Him. With our love and prayers, Ian, Nikki, Tom, Andrew, Naomi and Isaac – oh and Duke the dog!!!!”

Further details about Rev’d Greenwood’s service of institution will be announced in the coming weeks. We look forward to welcoming the Greenwood family to Christ Church Aughton. 

Assistant Minister - Rev'd Graham Rutter

I grew up in Stockport and studied in Durham, where I met my wife, Rachel. Before I trained for ordination, I was a Children’s Worker for a church in Staffordshire and before that, an archeologist focusing on Israel and Jordan, exploring sites and artefacts from biblical times in particular. Following ordination, I was Vicar of two parishes and Area Dean in South Derbyshire for seven years. Fast forward to 2020, I started a new day job as Lecturer in Old Testament at St. Melitus College North West, and was licensed as Assistant Minister here at Christ Church Aughton. I look forward to seeing you at church, or we may bump into each other in a bookshop, which is also a place I thoroughly enjoy!

Permission to Officiate: Rev'd Janet Roberts

My connection to Christ Church Aughton goes back to 1991, when I was Assistant Minister for 7 years. I loved it so much, that through the provision of God’s goodness I returned in 2020. In between, I was a Team Vicar and Team Rector in St Helens, and a Vicar in Crosby. In the community, you will see me walking on Clieves Hill with my black Labrador, exploring God’s wonderful creation.