We have been sharing stories about the type of roles people play in the life of the diocese. In this piece, we speak to Helen Uglow, who is the Deanery Implementation Team Administrator for Trigg Major.

 

Helen Uglow took a leap of faith to help make a difference in her community by applying for a Deanery Implementation Team (DIT) Administrator role.

She loved her job within the Department of Work and Pension team but handed in her notice after 25 years of service in 2025 to become Trigg Major’s DIT Administrator.

She explains:  “I watched an interesting presentation about rural churches including a message about being able to take a risk in faith and church life.Image shows Helen Uglow smiling.

“That same evening I heard about the Deanery Administrator vacancy. I went away and found the advert – the role really interested me, so I applied.”

After a while, when Helen was just starting to think her application had been unsuccessful, she was invited to an interview.

She says: “I hadn’t had a job interview for a long time and didn’t feel interview ready.

“Afterwards, I left a little disappointed. I knew I wanted this job, but I didn’t think I did myself justice.”

Several weeks went by and she hadn’t heard about the role so continued on at the Department for Work and Pensions.

“I loved my job there,” she says, “but I also knew I was ready for a change and that I wouldn’t leave unless I found something I really wanted to do.”

Helen has always attended church in Cornwall.

She says: “My mother took me to Kenwyn church and I was in the choir. I was also baptised, confirmed and married there.

“Faith is always the thing I turn to if I have got a problem.

“My personal opinion is we need churches in our communities. I know how much church can help us during many life changing events.”

It was this belief that had led her to apply for the Administrator role in the first place. Weeks later she was offered the position.

“I have always loved working with people, so it is a huge privilege to do this…” – Helen

Helen recalls: “I spent most of the first weeks just reading a lot of information to understand the role and what difference I could make.

“I am from a church going background and have been involved in the church all my life, but I still had to learn so much. I didn’t really see behind the scenes until I got this role, and did not know how much work  is involved.”

Helen enjoys the variety of tasks the job offers.

“I never know what I am going to be dealing with,” she says. “I have started to do a lot of work for funerals and baptisms – handling information ready for the priest to get involved.

“I have always loved working with people, so it is a huge privilege to do this, also humbling at the same time. You have to love people to take on this role. You also need to be organised and have IT skills.

“I am very fortunate to have a lovely team around me. People really try hard to help me – even when they haven’t got much time.”