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Audrey Anne Elkington (born 1 November 1957) is a retired British Anglican priest. She served as the Archdeacon of Bodmin in the Diocese of Truro.

Early life and education

Elkington was born in or near Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 1 November 1957 to Henry and Alexandra King. She studied Biochemistry at St Catherine's College, University of Oxford, graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1980; she then undertook post-graduate research at the University of East Anglia where she completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1983 — entitled "Streptomyces gene fusions involving the Escherichia coli B-glactosidase gene". She later also graduated Master of Arts (MA) from Durham University in 1999.

Career

Elkington felt the call to ministry during her postgraduate studies, but the Church of England did not at that time ordain women. Therefore, she began ministerial training in 1985 at St John's College, Nottingham and in 1986 with the East Anglian Ministerial Training Course; being licensed a deaconess in 1988, the only ministry (licensed lay, not ordained) then open to women. She then served in Monkseaton until 1991 (effectively her title/curacy, and thereafter in Ponteland.

In 1992, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to ordain women and she began the path to priesthood. She was made deacon at Petertide 1992 (17 July) at St Mary the Virgin, Ponteland (where she was already serving) and ordained priest on 15 May 1994 (during the first year women were ordained priests) at Newcastle Cathedral — both times by Ken Gill, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle. In 1993, she moved to Prudhoe (St Mary Magdalene), where she became Assistant Curate (and her husband Vicar) until 2002 — during this time, she also served as Rural Dean of Corbridge from 1999 onwards, and began her additional advisory role of Dean of Women's Ministry in 2001. Remaining in the last role, she resigned her parish licence in order to serve as Bishop's Chaplain (to Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle) and Director of Ordinands, becoming additionally an honorary canon of Newcastle Cathedral from 2006.

Elkington was appointed Archdeacon of Bodmin and collated at Truro Cathedral on 29 July 2011. She also served as Rural Dean of Trigg Major from 2016 and as Acting Archdeacon of Cornwall from May 2018 until 1 September 2019. She retired effective 28 February 2021.

Personal life

King married David Elkington in 1986 — he is also a priest of the Church of England, serving 1976–2016.

References

1. ^ "Installation of new Archdeacon of Bodmin". BBC News. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
2. ^ "Elkington, Audrey Anne". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 6 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
3. ^ "Audrey Anne Elkington". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
4. "Ordinations at Petertide". Church Times. No. 6753. 17 July 1992. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 January 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
5. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6850. 27 May 1994. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 January 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. Church news. The Times (London, England), Monday, April 04, 2011; pg. 47; Issue 70224
7. Diocese of Truro — Bill to head up church renewal project (Accessed 16 March 2018)
8. "Archdeacon of Cornwall welcomed to the diocese". 27 August 2019.
9. "Resignations and retirements".
10. "David John Elkington". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 January 2019.

• 1957 births
• Living people
• Alumni of St Catherine's College, Oxford
• Alumni of the University of East Anglia
• Archdeacons of Bodmin
• Alumni of Durham University
• People from Ponteland