In a service at Chester Cathedral on Sunday, April 28, Reverend Jane Proudfoot was formally installed as the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, with Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, presiding.
Reverend Proudfoot’s journey to this position included roles as the Rector of Grappenhall, Priest in charge of Daresbury, and Rural Dean of Great Budworth within the Diocese. She succeeds Ian Bishop, now the Bishop of Thetford, who held the role from 2011 until 2023.
Hailing from East Lancashire, Jane’s career prior to ordination was marked by her contributions as a Religious Studies teacher in Sandbach and Knutsford high schools and as the first Homelessness officer for Warrington Borough Council.
Jane’s family life is enriched by her husband Danny, their two adult daughters, Rose and Aphra, and their Red Labrador, Nell, who is known to occasionally answer to her name.
A big lover of music, Jane enjoys a broad spectrum of genres, including classical, jazz, musical theatre, and folk. She was also a regular at the annual Creamfields dance festival in Daresbury where she had been leading ‘We are the Church at Creamfields’ since 2017.
The role of Archdeacon appealed to Jane when she resonated with the job description’s portrayal of the Archdeacon as the ‘Arch-Pastor’—a figure of encouragement, empowerment, and support for the clergy and laity in their outreach missions. She views the current phase as a pivotal moment for the Chester Diocese, as it embraces innovative methods for church growth, aligning with the Diocesan Vision. Jane is enthusiastic about contributing to the senior team’s efforts in aiding clergy and parishes to adopt these fresh, strategic approaches.
During the service, Jane explained to the congregation, "Some people, when they found out I was going to be Archdeacon of Macclesfield, congratulated me, but with a worried look on their face, as if I were about to enter a fiery furnace". She said she didn't see it like that; "If we have faith in God then he will have faith in us".
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The full service can be viewed below