Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust

News

Rt Rev’d Debbie Sellin was installed as the 39th Bishop of Peterborough at a service in Peterborough Cathedral on 3 March 2024.

The Rt Rev’d John Holbrook, the suffragan Bishop of Brixworth, laid down his crozier on 30 September 2025 after 14 years of dedicated service to the Peterborough Diocese.

It is with great sadness that we record the recent death of Sue Parkinson, one of our longest serving trustees.

After qualifying as a teacher Sue taught for over 30 years at various schools in the UK and the Channel Islands, including several schools in the Peterborough Diocese.

Since retirement, Sue served as a Bishop’s Visitor to schools, as a SIAMS Inspector and as a member of the High Needs Funding Panel for Northamptonshire County Council. Sue was the Lay Chair of the Northampton Deanery for 9 years and a volunteer safeguarding trainer for the Diocese. She was a governor at six different schools, including vice chair of governors at Little Houghton Church of England Primary School and a governor at Wilby CE Primary School, until its relocation and relaunch as the Glenvale CE Primary School, as well as being a member of the Weston Favell CE Primary School and St Mary’s CE Primary School Academy Trusts. She served on the Diocesan Board of Education for 23 years and was Chair of the Board’s Education Strategy & Leadership Committee for over a decade, and served as a School Appeals Panel Member for West and North Northants and the Diocesan Appeals Service.

Sue was an active member of Christ Church, Northampton and before that St Matthew’s, Northampton. At both churches, she gave unstintingly of her experience and time.

Sue will be greatly missed by many across the Diocese and more widely. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Sue’s family on their loss.