Phil holds the church together with screws and duct tape and expertise and prayer. It is him I go to when I find a lump of it has fallen off. But he trusted me to wash his feet. A holy moment. #40gratefuldays day 42

Rev Adele did a lovely stations of the cross that I just went to. And I’m grateful for my colleagues. And that would be the highlight but An Angel came to church this morning and I got to hold her and she kissed my face. Meet Willow, the newest member of my congregation #40gratefuldays #lent day 41

I’m so tired I had a little kurffuffle tonight about not being able to find a bible reading I was Holding In My Hand the Whole Time. But the light was gorgeous in the candlelit church and the birds got ready for bed in the silence and God’s Good Spirit was there. #40gratefuldays #lent day 40

Was it lovely to go to the cathedral for the oils service and see friends? Yes. It was. But it was lovelier to be in the chancel of mine own church with folk I’d journeyed through Lent with, watching them engage, as the sun set through the stained glass. #40gratefuldays #lent day 39

Felt like I had more than an hour stolen from me last night. I’ve felt stupid all day. But wonderful to see beautiful st Mary’s full today for joint service. And very special to visit the local care home #40gratefuldays #lent day 38.

Was proud of my church today. I popped into the market to support part 2 of the Spirit of Radcliffe and chatted to the artists. “We loved being with you guys” they said. “It felt like you really wanted us there” yea we did.
Art of St T&J
#40GratefulDays #lent day 37

Today I went out to get the litter that’s in a green space I cut through to get to church. Dolly the trolley was full and I was just tying up the bag when two lovely kids from church wanted to know what I was doing. Love community and chance encounters #40gratefuldays #lent day 36

The way parish churches hold memory for their communities. The bride from today’s wedding rehearsal will kneel on this. Her granny made it in memory of her parents. How special. All the better for an encounter with the carpet cleaner. #40gratefuldays #lent day 35

The first woman Archbishop of Canterbury. I was at Manchester Cathedral and there was a lovely moment when they stood to sing on screen and we had to decide if we were watching or experiencing a thing. We were there watching history happen #40gratefuldays #lent day 34

Grateful for the wonderful @paulagooder.bsky.social. Her expertise that went into this book. It makes me so angry when folk have attended church all their lives tell me they’ve never had a safe space they can ask questions. And moved almost to tears that they loved it. #40gratefuldays #lent day 33

Today I got to be a visiting priest at one of the local churches. People said nice things about it. And every other person wanted to know where my accent was from. I’m just glad it was ok #40gratefuldays #lent day 32

Today I was supposed to go to a board game afternoon and said Teddy Dog could not come with me. It got cancelled and Liam and I walked to Bury instead. Which Teddy dog would have loved. Look at the Spring. It was gorgeous. #40gratefuldays #lent day 31

I totally missed it was St Cuthbert’s day. I have been struggling with ikea furniture and doing day off things like laundry and I’m grateful for the time for that. Cuthbert the Otter says Hi #40gratefuldays #lent day 30

This photo does not the view from Radcliffe Crem justice. One can see the hills. I helped the family of Rose to say Goodbye. Her husband brought me a picture of their wedding since the Rector of St Thomas married them. #40gratefuldays #lent day 27

Grateful my first funeral went smoothly and we said a good goodbye to John, forever walking the hills in heaven. #40gratefuldays #lent day 26

The church was full of a lovely buzz of activity all afternoon with people making and sharing art and learning stories and eating delicious cake. As it should be. #40GratefulDays #lent day 24.

This lovely thing is in my garden. Does it belong to me? That’s seems wild and strange to me. Maybe I belong to it. #40GratefulDays #lent day 23

This morning I got to see a chicken hatch. And listen to baby chickens cheep. And see little ones see a chick hatch. And this afternoon I spoke with a man who was so pleased the rector of St Thomas’ would take his wife’s funeral, as the Rector married them there in 1960. #40GratefulDays #lent day 22

I got to meet the women of worth today. I heard about their work with women who have experienced domestic abuse. Statistically there is someone your congregation they said. Grateful for their work and their friendliness and that I met a dog called George. #40gratefuldays #lent day 21

For international women’s day yesterday, I’m grateful for all my colleagues. I didn’t think too much about what a pioneer I would be but I do a job I wasn’t allowed to do when I was a little girl. And here is Archbishop Sarah doing hers for the first time. #40GratefulDays #lent day 18 catchup

Yesterday a lovely lazy rest day and a good catch up phone call with the lovely Rev Emily. Photo taken when the weather was warmer. #40GratefulDays #lent day 17 catch up

World Day of Prayer Service at a local church focusing on stories from. Nigeria. Lovely to meet folks over coffee after and chat. #40GratefulDays #lent day 16 (Artwork: Rest for the Weary by Gift Amarachi Ottah)

A shopping trolley holding a purple rubbish bag full of rubbish in a clean open space.

Got to pray with a lovely parishioner in hospital and feel the holiness of that moment. To hold her hand like Jesus would.
And I got to make Radcliffe ever so slightly better with my new litter trolley. At the site of the old St John’s. #40GratefulDays #lent day 15

This morning my Uber driver was absolutely delighted to meet me. So glad to see someone move into that house. My mum used to take samosas to the church people.
Later I met my lovely neighbours at Sillets as I had my first funeral to arrange. So lovely to feel so welcome #40GratefulDays #lent day 14

Both yesterday and this morning, the light has just been gorgeous in Radcliffe. Early Spring days. Look at St Mary’s. Isn’t she beautiful? #40GratefulDays #lent day 13 catch up

Can I be grateful for the same thing twice? I’m really enjoying lent discussions. Having people in my home and having them wonder things about faith. But folks, can you believe none have said. ‘Rector why is your milk jug a vomiting otter?’ #40GratefulDays #lent catch up day 12

A vicar with a broom sweeping a graveyard path

Grateful for the lovely folks at the pickers who came to St Mary’s to garden and clear up the graveyard. I grabbed a broom but had to stay tidy to baptise a baby, which was a delight. #40GratefulDays #lent Day 12

I tricked myself into an early night. My friend declined another online game in favour of sleep so I thought it must be bedtime. It was early for me. And it was delicious. #40gratefuldays #lent day 11 catchup

A lovely dog on a green sofa. the dog is brown with darker ears and white socks and chest.

For a lazy day off watching Bridgerton And to catch up with David and Caroline in their new home over a lovely meal. And to see this guy who was so excited to greet me all four paws left the ground at once #40GratefulDays #lent day 10

Litter pickers in an overgrown and messy area

Grateful today to have moved to a town whose community cares for it. I went to meet the litter pickers. And had a wander. Climbed over a wall to get to this bit and then discovered I could have walked around the back #40GratefulDays #lent day 9