Rev. Anne Robertson

05/06/2026

We are very pleased to announce the launch of a new School Transport Bursary, designed to help remove financial barriers that prevent schools from visiting the cathedral for learning visits.

The bursary will be available from September 2026 to August 2027 and will support eligible schools across the Diocese of Durham.

We look forward to welcoming many more schools and pupils to the cathedral. Find out how to apply here: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/visit-us/groups-schools/learning-visits/school-transport-bursary

03/06/2026

Today has been incredibly special and is one which will remain vividly in my memory and heart for years to come.

At 11am, in a wonderful and intimate service, I was licensed as Assistant Curate to St. Mary’s Church in Cockerton.

The service was taken by Bishop Frank White and in attendance were friends old and new from across the parishes I have had, and have, the privilege of serving in.

We were then treated to an unexpected and perfectly lovely reception, featuring cakes, pastries and scones.

My heartfelt thanks go to Bishop Frank and the staff at Auckland Castle, to everyone who came to support me today, and to all those who have been holding me in prayer over the past two years, and this morning.

It is certainly not in my own strength that I am able to answer God’s call each day, but carried in prayer and in the love of Christ, I will continue to follow Him and share His love with all I meet and in any way I can.

Your Sister in Christ,
Rev. Anne

25/05/2026

Dear friends,

I am pleased to tell you that after a lot of unpacking, hanging curtains and rebuilding furniture, the vicarage is beginning to feel like home.

It is with joy that I can also now say that my licensing will take place on the 3rd of June in the Oratory at Auckland Palace.

Due to the size of the venue numbers are limited but I have been able to invite a few friends from my previous parishes in Gateshead and Durham, and my new parish in Darlington.

I will preside at the Eucharist for the first time in St. Mary’s Cockerton on the 14th of June. The service begins at 10am and Fr. Barry Abbott will be preaching. There will be a glass of fizz available after the service - and I’ve heard rumours of cake too!

All are warmly invited to attend and celebrate this new beginning as I continue to follow God’s call on my life.

Every blessing,
Rev. Anne

24/05/2026

Today is Pentecost - sometimes called the Birthday of the Church.

The Day of Pentecost marks fifty days since Easter Day and brings the Easter season to an end. It’s a major feast of the Church’s year when Christians recall how God’s Holy Spirit was given to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, empowering them to begin the work of making disciples of all nations.

Pentecost (which comes from the Greek word for ‘fiftieth’) has its roots in the Jewish Feast of Weeks.

Jesus had promised his followers that, although they would not see him after his Ascension, they would receive the Holy Spirit to guide and inspire them.

The Acts of the Apostles describes how the crowds gathered in Jerusalem – representing many nationalities and speaking many languages – were able to hear the disciples preaching in their own language.

'When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.'

Acts 2, Chapter 2

14/05/2026

Today is Ascension Day when Christians remember Jesus ascending to heaven. In Austria and other countries it’s a national holiday. Here in the UK churches will mark it with special services.
It’s at one of these that I’ll meet my new congregation this evening.

The move went well, with only a few teething issues at the vicarage here in Darlington.
These will soon be resolved. 🙏

I’m very much looking forward to popping the collar back on - there are only so many boxes I can unpack before I start dreaming about cardboard and packing paper!

The essentials are sorted though - kettle, tea bags and biscuits. If you’re passing do call in. But I can’t guarantee you won’t get a job to do while we sup a cuppa or two! 😉

08/05/2026

The Diocese of Durham are seeking a collaborative and passionate individual to serve as Diocesan Director of Vocations and Ordinands

06/05/2026

Losing someone you love is never easy. And with the constant stream of “simple” or “no‑fuss” funeral adverts on TV, it’s understandable that people might assume a funeral doesn’t really make a difference to grief. But that simply isn’t true. A well‑shaped funeral — one that honours the person, tells their story, and holds space for real emotion — can be a vital part of the journey through loss.

One of the most helpful things you can do is talk with your loved one while you still can. Ask about their wishes, share your own, and let those conversations guide you. When the time comes, a good Funeral Director can make all the difference — someone who listens, guides gently, and helps you create something meaningful rather than rushed or minimal.

And alongside that, your local Christian church — including your Church of England parish — is there for you. The church has centuries of wisdom in walking with people through grief, offering prayers, hope, and a place where your loved one’s life can be held before God with dignity and compassion. A funeral in church, or led by your local vicar, isn’t about formality for its own sake; it’s about grounding the service in faith, love, and the promise of resurrection.

A good funeral doesn’t take away the pain of loss, but it can help you carry it. It can give you space to remember, to weep, to smile, and to entrust your loved one into God’s care. And when the church and a skilled Funeral Director work together, families often discover that a funeral can be not just a duty, but a gift — a moment of truth, tenderness, and hope.

03/05/2026

Or as a wise person once told me…’you don’t stop playing because you got old, you get old because you stop playing’.
Here’s to embracing our childlikeness and seeing the joy that comes from following Jesus, knowing he welcomes us as his children now and always.

God put the wiggle in children,
the bounce in their step,
the can’t-sit-still energy
that spills out at the wrong moments
and the right ones too.

The fidget,
the whisper,
the question that pops out
mid-sentence,
mid-prayer,
mid-everything.

We try to tidy it,
line it up,
smooth it down
into something quieter,
something easier to manage.

But Jesus sees it
and smiles.

Let them come.
Just like that.
With the wiggle still in them,
with the laughter not tucked away,
with the wonder wide open.

Because this is what it looks like
to come without pretending,
to trust without overthinking,
to reach out
without checking if you’re allowed.

God put the wiggle in children,
and calls it good.

And maybe,
just maybe,
we don’t need to lose it
to belong.

Maybe there’s room
for the restless,
the curious,
the slightly chaotic
parts of us too.

Maybe the kingdom
has space
for a bit of wiggle.

© E Hamilton 2026

02/05/2026

Jesus told not only Peter but all who follow him, to feed his sheep. Not just those in our own pastures but all God’s children.
World Central Kitchen founded by Chef Jose Andres is truly doing the Lord’s work across the globe. Find out more here https://wck.org/

This Chef is prophetic.