Rev Janice Aiton
Janice was born and educated in Scotland, going on to undertake higher education and teaching languages in Glasgow schools for 11 years. From 1991-2001 Janice worked as the Scripture Union Regional Field Worker in Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders. She then studied theology through TISEC at Edinburgh University. Janice served as a curate in St Andrew’s from 2001 to 2004.
Janice was previously Rector at Dunboyne and Rathmolyon Union of parishes, in the diocese of Meath and Kildare, near Dublin in Ireland. She was Rector for 12 years or so, of this Church of Ireland Union of parishes, which is formed of a group of 6 different churches. Janice was the Rural Dean, as well as being the Co-ordinator of Continual Ministerial Education in the South, also Chaplain to the Girls’ Friendly Society and Church of Ireland Chaplain to the Univeristy of Maynooth.
Janice enjoys working with different people, of all ages, from suburban and rural backgrounds so enabling them to use their talents as they follow Jesus, in faith and love. Janice has served on the Diocesan Council for Meath and Kildare, plus the Board of Education, and been involved in continuing education for newly ordained clergy. Janice has worked with many groups of people to plan and develop a new parish centre for Dunboyne parish.
Janice arrived as Rector at St John’s in October 2017 and, since that time, has overseen projects to repair the church tower, to replace the church lighting and renew the church boilers (the latter damaged in a flood and, fortunately, covered by insurance). She was instrumental in devising an almost 18 month long programme of events to celebrate St John’s 150th anniversary of occupation of our current church building, to which many different groups within the Congregation contributed. She has also responded imaginatively to the Covid pandemic, keeping the church open and operational when it was permitted to do so, and ensuring, when we could do nothing else, that online services were available on the St John’s website. She has ensured that Lent, and other, housegroups have been enabled to continue via Zoom and the like, and has faithfully kept in touch, pastorally, with a large number of people, thus ensuring St John’s continues, as an entity, even at times when it was difficult to meet physically. It is good to be getting back to more normality and the welcome restart of the children’s holiday clubs and similar activities.