Born in Codsall, Wolverhampton of Methodist parents, she gained 'A' levels in physics, mathematics and chemistry at Codsall High School, and after a gap year at Luton Industrial College, read theology at Durham University, 1979-82, gaining a BA (Hons) and in 1983 a PGCE in religious studies and mathematics at Cardiff University. She married Andrew M Baker (e.m. 1993) in 1983; they had two children, one of whom died as a teenager in 2012. After working in local government she served alongside her husband as a mission partner in St Vincent, 1994-97, and Grenada, 1998-2001. She became a local preacher in 2004, and has served as a local preachers' tutor, as a member of the connexional Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Studies Board and of the Ministries Committee. She was elected the first President of Methodist Women in Britain in 2011. She has developed an interest in pilgrimage and leads groups to Lindisfarne and the Holy Land. She was elected Vice-President of the Conference in 2017 and Chair of the Methodist Council in 2018.

Her publications: Here and There: Advent Reflections from Two Cultures (1999), Coming and Going: Lent Reflections (2002), Thanks Peter God (2014).

Entry written by: BEB
Category: Person
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