Autumn 2021Reverend Anne Gilbert becomes the new Vicar of Rochdale

A Church of England priest in Manchester Diocese and formerly curate of St Andrew’s, Dearnley, Reverend Anne Gilbert has officially begun her new role as the vicar of Rochdale Parish Churches.

Revd Gilbert was welcomed as the new vicar during a ceremony at St Chad’s Parish Church on 29 June.

The night also marked new beginnings with the bringing together of a new team of churches – as St Chad’s, St Mary in the Baum, and St Edmund’s are now joined by St Luke’s Deeplish and St Peter’s Newbold.

The celebratory event was attended by the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Aasim Rashid, and Sir Tony Lloyd MP, as well as local councillors, faith representatives, members of congregation from the churches, and representatives from Revd Anne’s curacy churches in Dearnley and Wardle.

Anne was welcomed by the Bishop of Middleton, Mark Davies and the new Area Dean, Revd Canon Karen Smeeton.

“I am very excited about this new beginning and the future for our churches,” said Revd Gilbert. “This is the bringing together of a new family, and a new ministry team.

“I look forward to serving with them and finding ways to work with other leaders, both faith and civic, to find ways to best serve the people of Rochdale."

As the daughter of a Church of England vicar, Revd Gilbert was born in Goodshaw Vicarage, Rawtenstall where her late father, Fred, was vicar of St Mary and All Saints.

She grew up in vicarages across the region, including that at St Aidan’s in Sudden, Rochdale where her father was the vicar from 1975 to 1980.

Anne was ordained in Manchester Cathedral in 2018.