Caroline Baston

The Venerable Caroline Baston
Priest in Charge of the Parish of St Andrew, Blunsdon
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Bristol
In office	2011 to 2016
Other post(s)	Warden of the Community of St Mary the Virgin (2013-2021) Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight (2006-2011)
Personal details
Born	Caroline Jane Baston (1956-10-17) 17 October 1956 (age 68)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglicanism
Alma mater	University of Birmingham Ripon College Cuddesdon

Caroline Jane Baston (born 17 October 1956) is a Church of England priest. From 2006 to 2011, she served as Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight.

Early life and education

Baston was born on 17 October 1956.[1] She studied at the University of Birmingham, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1978 and a Certificate of Education (CertEd) in 1979.[2] She then began her first career as a mathematics teacher, working at a comprehensive school in inner-city Sandwell.[3]

In 1987, Baston entered Ripon College Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college. There, she spent the next two years studying theology and training for ordination.[2]

Ordained ministry

Baston was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1989. From 1989 to 1994, she served as Parish Deacon of St Christopher's Church, Thornhill, Southampton.[2] In 1994, she was ordained as a priest; this was the first year that the Church of England ordained women to the priesthood and therefore she was one of its first female priests.[2][3] She was an Assistant Curate at St Christopher's, Thornhill, and then Rector of All Saints', Winchester with St Andrew's, Chilcomb.[4] She was appointed an honorary canon of Winchester Cathedral in 2000.[2]

Baston was Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight from 2006 until 2011.[5] On 3 October 2011, she was licensed as Transition Minister and Priest-in-charge of St Andrew's, North Swindon.[6] In November 2013, she was appointed Warden of the Community of St Mary the Virgin, an Anglican religious order.[2][7] She was appointed Master, Community of Hospital of St Nicholas, Salisbury, in 2021

References

1. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
2. "Caroline Jane Baston". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
3. "New Isle of Wight Archdeacon to be Among First Women Priests". Christianity Today. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
4. Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 (100th edition), Church House Publishing (ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0).
5. Diocese of Portsmouth – Island Archdeacon leaves..
6. North Swindon parish
7. "Photographs taken at the Blessing of the Ven Caroline Baston as Warden CSMV". Community of St Mary the Virgin. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2016.^[permanent dead link‍]

Church of England titles
Preceded by Trevor Reader	Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight 2006–2011	Succeeded by Peter Sutton