Anna Walker is training for ministry at St Mellitus College and as part of her full-time course will be placed at the Priory three days a week. Anna comes originally from Finland and has been living in England now for 10 years. What brought her to England was her Scottish husband’s job. They met while volunteering in the monastic community of Taizé in France. The style of prayer and the values of the community (simplicity, joy, trust, reconciliation) have had a big impact on the couple’s life, and they have set up Lunesdale Community, a Christian residential community where they currently live in Halton. They have two children who are 15 and 12, and two miniature Jack Russell terriers.

Before starting a family, Anna trained and worked as a deacon in Helsinki. This is a vocation in itself which doesn’t lead to priesthood in the Finnish Lutheran Church, but looks a lot like social work in the church context. Now, 16 years after ordination as deacon, Anna is following a calling to priesthood in the Church of England. During her placement she is looking forward to learning to communicate the hope and freedom which she finds in Christ in new ways and being able to serve the parish in laetitia pacis.

In recent years, Anna has worked in student welfare with international foundation year students at Lancaster University. She has also been involved in facilitating spirituality courses and spiritual director training in Cumbria. She loves nature and tries her best to minimise her carbon footprint for example by not driving. As her hobbies, she lists walking, baking, reading spiritual books and journalling.