A former speech and language therapist has been appointed as the new Archdeacon of Hackney.

A former speech and language therapist has been appointed as the new Archdeacon of Hackney.

Rachel Treweek will oversee parishes in Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets from the end of July.

She has spent the last five years as an Archdeacon in Northolt, Northwest London.

She is familiar with East London, having served as curate at St George and All Saints Tufnell Park for five years before becoming Vicar of St James the Less, Bethnal Green for a further seven years.

She is one of six archdeacons in the Diocese of London and will be working with The Bishop-designate of Stepney, the Very Reverend Adrian Newman who will also be moving to East London and will be consecrated on 22 July.

He said: “Rachel will bring a wealth of experience to her new post in the Stepney Area, both in terms of local knowledge and through her five years as Archdeacon of Northolt. For an incoming Bishop with so much to discover and learn, I could not wish for a better colleague to take on this vital role.” She is married to the Revd Guy Treweek, who has recently been appointed Priest-in-Charge of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe and St James, Garlickhythe in the City. She comes from Broxbourne in Hertfordshire and originally trained as a Speech and Language therapist, becoming manager of a team across three London health authorities.

She said: “It is a great privilege to accept the Bishop of London’s invitation to be the next Archdeacon of Hackney. I am greatly looking forward to working with Adrian and the Area staff in supporting and developing the exciting diversity of the mission and ministry in the Stepney Area.”

Archdeacons are responsible for buildings, the welfare of the clergy and carrying out diocesan policy. They have to have been ordained for at least six years.