“Sharing our faith in a city of diversity”

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 September 2010 06:28

Shan Rush, a 46 year old specialist nurse working with children who require bone marrow transplants at The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield , will be ordained by Bishop Steven at a service in the Cathedral on Sunday 4th July (1030).

She will serve her curacy as a self supporting (non stipendiary) minister at St. Mark’s Broomhill in Sheffield whilst continuing to work on the haematology and oncology ward, where she is part of the team caring for children.

Shan moved to Sheffield to start her nurse training in 1982 and intended staying a year after she qualified as a paediatric nurse, however she soon found she was settled in Sheffield and continued working at The Children’s Hospital and enjoyed being able to pursue her hobbies of walking and photography in the surrounding countryside. 
She bought her own house and at the invitation of a friend, started to attend her local church, St Mary’s in Walkley. It was in 2004 that she first acknowledged she was being called to explore her vocation and started on a journey of discernment leading to recommendation by a Bishop’s Advisory Panel that she commence ordination training.

She is now in the third year of formation with the Yorkshire Ministry Course and will complete this stage in mid June before being ordained deacon She is looking forward to this very special occasion, which will mark the beginning of her ordained ministry:  “It will be a great privilege to share and learn with others as we explore what it means to live out and share our faith as a Christian in our city of diversity. At present I am called to follow in the footsteps of Christ by serving the communities of Broomhill and Broomhall and am fortunate to be able to achieve this through my ministry with the Church and my secular employment.”

After serving as a deacon for a year Shan will be eligible to be considered for ordination to the Church of England priesthood.