Staff Page

Church Staff

Anthea Darlington Reader Emeritus  Church Administrator 

I first started coming to St Paul’s in 1981 when my daughter wanted to join Sunday School. After the fire in 1987 I was part of the group which helped draw up the brief for rebuilding the church. It wasn't until after completing an Alpha course in the early 1990’s that my long-lost faith began to rekindle. 

When I retired as a headteacher in Swinton in 2005 I became churchwarden and PCC member (Churchwarden again from 2024).  I used my work experience to draw up a Plan for Growth together with colleagues, to help us become a more effective mission parish through growth in numbers, depth, gifts, outreach and wisdom. This is now part of our parish Mission Action Plan. 

Having trained as an ALM (Associate Lay Minister) in the first cohort in 2014, encouraged by friends I began training as a Lay Reader, licensed in 2016.    I became Reader Emeritus in 2018 and now fulfil a variety of parish roles in the wider church community, including Worship Planning Co-ordinator, Data Officer (thanks to GDPR!), and do much of the parish administration.

 I am also chair of SPACE, the group which manages St Paul’s churchyard as a community resource and provides assistance and information to the families of those buried there. I also serve as Chair of Governors at St Paul's School where I prepare and deliver assemblies and encourage the children to develop and live by Christian values. 

This parish is a place where people work together not just for the two congregations, but for the whole community, and where all are welcomed as part of God’s people: it is a privilege to be part of this.

Revd. Hilary Shedlock    Associate Minister

My husband, Philip and I visited St Andrew’s on Easter Day 1995 to have our eldest son baptised. The welcome was so good we never left!

Over the years I have done many jobs for the parish, but eventually I said “yes” to Gods call to something new. This has developed as a calling to ordination, a calling to be a minister to St Pauls and in particular St Andrews congregations, and to Carr Clough, the community where I live.

After 3 years of academic study, supported by my family and my church family, I was ordained deacon on 1st July 2018 and ordained priest in 2019. I am now learning what it means to be ordained and I am listening to God for the next steps on this amazing journey. 

At present (from March 2025) I am taking a leave of absence on health grounds and hope to be back in touch soon.

Revd. Mike Dyson  Associate Minister: OLM  

I am our first associate  minister; an ordained non-stipendiary minister working in association with the parish. An OLM is an Ordained Local Minister. An OLM is LOCAL because women and men are selected and trained to serve in the situation they know best – their own local church and community.

I serve both churches but with particular responsibility for the Wednesday morning service at St Paul's.

I am married to Jean and have two grown-up children and two grandchildren. I am a magistrate. Now that I have retired from my full time profession I am enjoying being able to devote more time to pastoral work within the parish.

Heather Martin  Reader Emeritus

I’m married to David whom I met in the church choir in Egglescliffe in County Durham. We are both members of St Paul’s Kersal, where I have been a licensed reader for the last 20 years.

I took early retirement from primary teaching in 1999. Since then I’ve been very grateful to be able to play a small part, as a reader, in the life of our parish. At the moment I am principal accompanist at St Paul's where I am privileged to play the wonderful Yamaha grand piano. David and I take the occasional Morning Praise service together at both churches.

Church is a wonderful place to come to worship God and meet new people. Why don’t you come along and try it – we’d love to see you.

Retired Minister – Revd Canon Noel Proctor

I was born and raised in Belfast. I converted at the age of 17 and joined the Church Army when I was 23. After 5 yrs of evangelist work with them I trained for ordination at St Aidan’s Theological College and was ordained in 1964. Then followed my curacy after which I became a Rector in the Diocese of Durham. Having helped on a Mission in Durham Prison I became a full-time Chaplain in the Prison Service, serving at Wandsworth, Eastchurch, Dartmoor and Manchester Strangeways.

After retirement I became a voluntary chaplain at North Manchester General Hospital and with the Bury Division of the Greater Manchester Police. I have the Bishop’s permission to officiate as an Evangelist in the Manchester Diocese and am a Honorary Priest at St Paul’s Kersal with St Andrew’s Carr Clough. I enjoy reading and I also sing with the Radcliffe Male Voice Choir.