Helen Elliott obituary

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/28/helen-elliott-obituary

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My mother, Helen Elliott, who has died aged 91, was one of those redoubtable clergy wives who have graced parishes up and down Britain and, not being able to be priests themselves, valiantly supported their husbands in what often became a joint ministry.

Born in Southsea, Hampshire, Helen was the daughter of Cyril Hudson, an insurance manager, and his wife, Lillian (nee Wallis). The family later moved to Liverpool and she became a member of the vibrant youth fellowship at All Hallows Church there, led by the Rev Hugh Wilkinson, who later became archdeacon of Westmorland. Helen studied social work at Liverpool University, becoming a social worker until starting a family.

In 1948 Helen married Colin Elliott, who was ordained priest the following year, and followed him in the parishes in which he served, the last being from 1959 as rector of Windermere where she supported his ministry until he retired in 1988. Together they adopted five children, but also took many other people under their wing at the rectory; one notable example was a local priest, the Rev Harold Spooner MC, who had been the Anglican army chaplain at the horrific siege in 1915 of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), the longest ever endured by the British army. Helen, like Colin, was a firm follower of the church’s liberal tradition, always open to questions, working alongside those seeking to explore their faith and serving God by serving others.

Helen ran the Mothers’ Union, acted as Colin’s secretary, supported his youth work, ran their home, the voluminous Windermere rectory, and in 1975 became a lay reader helping Colin in leading services. She was a keen guider, for many years captaining the Windermere Sea Rangers. Helen’s support of Colin enabled him to serve the wider community in becoming a county councillor for the former county of Westmorland, focusing on education, which included being the chair of governors’ bodies at all levels of education. After he retired, Helen was a stalwart supporter of St Anne’s Church in Ings and the Staveley Stick & Wheel Club in Cumbria.

She played the recorder, competing in the Mary Wakefield music festival, and was a member of Windermere and then Staveley choral societies.

Colin died in 2000. Helen is survived by her children, Nicholas, Faith, Hilary, John and me, and a foster daughter, Janet; and by nine grandchildren.