Elaine ready to get ‘back to work’

Elaine ready to get ‘back to work’

1 September 2021

AFTER a career in nursing, a Crossgar mother has been ordained a minister in the Church of Ireland.

The Rev Elaine Pentland was ordained by Bishop David McClay during a service in Dromore Cathedral recently

Elaine was joined at the service by her husband, Sydney, and their three children, Michael (20), Isaac (18) and nine year-old Emma.

She is the daughter of former Ulster Unionist politician Dermot Nesbitt and his wife, Oriel, who were also present.

Elaine says her journey from being a nurse to a cleric could not have possible without the support of her family.

“My family is my backbone, My mum and dad, my husband and the children have been really great all the way through. 

It has been a team effort,” she said.

Brought up in Crossgar, where she still lives, she says her faith was nurtured from an early age in Kilmore Parish Church.

“As a little girl my faith was nurtured in the local parish church and even as a child, I would say that my love for Jesus was expressed as being part of His church. While I enjoyed nursing, for a long time I had a desire in the back of my mind to retire as soon as possible and volunteer at my local church.

However, around 2016 this desire began to grow, along with a restlessness and dissatisfaction in my professional career. It became an overwhelming desire to give all of my energies to advance the Kingdom, and it wouldn’t go away.”

After a 20–year nursing career, 10 of which were spent on the front line she entered theological college in 2018.

“In the end it was my husband who urged me to explore ordination. Thankfully as I went – very tentatively – through the process of discernment with the Church, they too affirmed this pull on my life.”

Elaine says giving up work and returning to full-time eduction was both “daunting and exciting”. Now she’s looking forward to her year as a deacon based at Willowfield Parish Church in Belfast.

“I have enjoyed studying for these past two years, but feel I am ready to get ‘back to work’. I am so looking forward to getting involved in the parish and getting to know the people.

“She added: “One of the things that encourages me most is hearing other people’s journeys of faith, so hopefully we will share stories and be an encouragement to each other as I learn more of the Lord and His ways as He continues to grow and develop me for a life in ordained ministry.”