When Alison Froggatt is ordained deacon on Sunday in Bradford Cathedral she will complete a unique family tree stretching back to the 19th century.

Her father Michael Gresford-Jones was Bishop of St Albans for 20 years, her grandfather Herbert was vicar of Bradford between 1906-12, ending up as Bishop of Warrington and her great grandfather William Jones was a vicar in Cumbria.

Her son Peter is the Reverend Froggatt, assistant curate at St Andrew's Church, Bebbington on the Wirral, and her nephew Chad Bolton is a monk at Ampleforth monastery and is likewise about to be ordained a priest.

Mrs Froggatt, 62, of Gilstead Hall, Bingley, said: "It's in the family, the Church. It feels like a family business. Somehow that feels harder if you are breaking the mould as a woman, because it's come about so slowly, I have been thinking about it for 12-15 years.

"It was partly the pressure of my job, lecturing in social work at Bradford University, which meant that it didn't happen sooner.

"I do get some gentle teasing from my family. My children are planning for my grandson Jonah to wear a T-shirt saying: 'My gran and uncle are vicars!'

"I don't have a lot of time to chat about what I am doing to Peter. We are from different traditions in the church and he needs his space and I need mine. It's better if our paths don't cross."

However, mother and son will be in union later in the evening when she will lead evening prayer at St Wilfrid's Church, Bingley, and he will preach. In December it is hoped she will be ordained a priest.

Until then, as a deacon she will be able to conduct baptisms, funerals and take part in communion services. She will become an honorary assistant curate at Holy Trinity with St Wilfrid as a part-time non-stipendary minister.

Married to David with three grown-up children, she has lived in Bingley for 25 years and worshipped in all the churches in the Bingley group during that time.

She added: "I worked very hard for the ordination of women and it was very painful for me when it finally happened although I was glad of course - I wanted to be part of the action.

"When I was in my early 50s I thought my time had come and gone but it shows me that God never gives up and is always the God of surprises!"

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