Last updated 05:41, Friday, 15 August 2008

Mary Gill made her substantial mark both in the local community at Alston and in the much wider area that took in Cumbria and Northumberland. She was a teacher, a classicist who specialised in Latin and Greek, could read Hebrew and who also taught mathematics and religious studies.

The Rev Mary Gill: She was 87 when she died after a long illness

She was a Girl Guide Commissioner for Cumbria and she had a great interest in geology.

But, above all, she held fast to the lifelong Christian faith that, in later life, saw her ordained as a deacon in the Church of England.

She was the first woman to be ordained in the Newcastle Diocese and the first woman to conduct a service in the city’s cathedral.

She and her husband Ben moved from the south of England to make their home in Alston many years ago and they both became teachers at Samuel King’s School in the Cumbrian town.

While she taught the classical subjects in which she specialised – she brought Latin teaching back to the school – he taught physics and chemistry.

They moved to Alston for professional reasons and because of their shared interest in the geology of the Pennines their home was filled with books and stones and dried flowers.

When she eventually retired from the Samuel King’s School, the leaving present that she asked for and received was a copy of the Old Testament – in Hebrew.

Born in 1920 she won her BA degree at Nottingham University in 1942 and went on to St John‘s College, in Nottingham, where she obtained her Certificate in Ecumenical Studies.

Her ordination into the priesthood took place in 1988 and she went on to serve as a non stipendiary member of the Alston team ministry.

Her husband died several years ago .

The Rev Mary Gill was 87 when she died after a long illness. Her private cremation was followed by a service of thanksgiving in St Augustine’s Church, Alston.

Donations were requested for the League of Friends of Alston Cottage Hospital and the Cumbria Air Ambulance.

Co-operative Funeralcare, Haltwhistle, made the funeral arrangements.