Sheelagh Aston
Writer, Vicar, Mother.
About Sheelagh
Faith is a large part of Sheelagh's life. She initially rediscovered it when hanging out with friends in the pub who were Christians. Several years later, this led to her to becoming a parish priest in 2005. A vocation she retains to this day.
Her early career involved working as a community worker, and a stint at the London Chamber of Commerce teaching adults. In 1996 she left London and moved North East where she worked for St John's College/Crammer Hall before training to become a vicar. In December 2016 she moved to Blackburn, where she now lives and serves.
Though blind in one eye and dyslexic, this had not stopped Sheelagh from leading a full and active life working with people, raising a family, travelling and writing. A positive attitude based upon a quote she read as a teenager ‘Argue for your limitations and they are yours.’–Richard Bach, Illusions. .
When not ministering or writing, Sheelagh enjoys walking with her dog in the beautiful Lancashire countryside, quilting and swimming. She has two grown up children.
The hard hat in the picture has a particular significance. In 2019 Sheelagh brought the passion from her early career - working for the YMCA helping homeless young adults - and aligned it with her ministerial life. Sheelagh worked with a local charity called Nightsafe to get the church's Parish Centre converted in to housing for homeless young people. With the aid of DIY SOS team for BBC's Children in Need Big Build special - the Parish Center now provide a home for six young people.