An informative and moving account of the days when women could only be deacons in the Anglican Church. The hugely popular TV series 'The Vicar of Dibley' transformed British attitudes to women priests. A few years before it was created things were very different. Jill Swallow faced ignorance and prejudice every day. But she recounts her experiences as a deaconess in the time before women priests with humour and insight. We read of the characters and events of parish life, happy and poignant. Who would dare cross the Mothers' Union? Or bring the organist to his knees? Jill met these challenges and managed to keep smiling. 'Drawing on her personal experiences, Jill Swallow illustrates some of the uncertainties and confusions with which many women in her position had to cope. That she does so with delightful touches of humour is one of the attractions of this engaging book.' - Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester