Kathleen Margaret Brown facts for kids

Kathleen Margaret Brown was a very important person in the Church of Ireland. She was the first woman to become a full-time minister in the church. This was a big step forward!

Who is Kathleen Margaret Brown?

Kathleen Margaret Brown made history in the Church of Ireland. She was the very first woman to be given a special role called "full-time ministry." This means she could lead church services and help people in the community, just like male ministers.

Her Journey in the Church

Kathleen started her journey in the church in 1988. She worked as a curate at St. Nicholas' Church in Carrickfergus. A curate is like an assistant minister. She stayed there until 1992.

After that, she became the rector at St. Paul's Parish Church in Belfast. A rector is the main minister in charge of a church. While she was there, St. Paul's Church joined with another church, St. Barnabas. Now, they are one church called St. Paul and St. Barnabas.

Important Milestones

A very special day for Kathleen was 24 June 1990. On this day, she was officially ordained as a minister. This means she was given the authority to perform religious duties. She was ordained by Bishop Samuel Poyntz, along with another woman named Irene Templeton.

Later, in 2000, Kathleen was given another important title. She became a canon at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast. A canon is a senior member of the clergy, often linked to a cathedral.

Later Years and Recognition

Kathleen retired from her full-time ministry in 2007. Even after retiring, she continued to help people. She became a pastoral minister for the widows of clergy in the Diocese of Connor. A diocese is a large area managed by a bishop.

In 2007, Kathleen received a special award from the Queen. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award is given to people who have done amazing things to help their community. Kathleen received it for all her hard work and service in Northern Ireland. Before her church work, she also studied a lot, earning degrees in theology.