Ruth Gledhill (born 1959) is an English

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

and is a former religion affairs correspondent for ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', a post she left in 2014. Gledhill was the last full-time newspaper journalist dedicated to religious affairs in the UK. She is currently assistant editor, home and digital, of ''

The Tablet ''The Tablet'' is a Catholic Church, Catholic international weekly review published in London. Brendan Walsh, previously literary editor and then acting editor, was appointed editor in July 2017. History ''The Tablet'' was launched in 1840 by ...

''. Gledhill grew up in Gratwich, Staffordshire, a small village near

Uttoxeter Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border. The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...

, as the daughter of the local vicar. She is married to Alan Franks, a writer for ''

'' and ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', a playwright and musician. The couple have one son, Arthur. Gledhill began her career in Uttoxeter with the ''

Uttoxeter Advertiser Uttoxeter ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in the East Staffordshire borough of Staffordshire, England. It is near to the Derbyshire county border. The town is from Burton upon Trent via the A50 and the A38, from Stafford via the A51 ...

'' and then moved to the '' Birmingham Post'' and '' Birmingham Evening Mail'' before joining the ''

Daily Mail The ''Daily Mail'' is a British daily Middle-market newspaper, middle-market Tabloid journalism, tabloid conservative newspaper founded in 1896 and published in London. , it has the List of newspapers in the United Kingdom by circulation, h ...

'' in 1984 and ''

'' in 1987; she became ''The Times'' religion correspondent in 1989. She co-authored (with Tim Webb) a guide to Birmingham entitled ''Birmingham is not a Boring City''. She also edited ''The Times Book of Prayers'' and ''The Times Book of Best Sermons'', published for six years in connection with The Times Preacher of the Year Award. Gledhill has argued in favour of the "benefits of schism" within the

Anglican Communion The Anglican Communion is a Christian Full communion, communion consisting of the Church of England and other autocephalous national and regional churches in full communion. The archbishop of Canterbury in England acts as a focus of unity, ...

, taking a critical stance against Peter Akinola and other church leaders with conservative views on homosexuality. Gledhill has been shortlisted three times in the

British Press Awards The Press Awards, formerly the British Press Awards, is an annual ceremony that celebrates the best of British journalism. History Established in 1962 by ''The People'' and '' World's Press News'', the first award ceremony for the then-named Ha ...

and won the Andrew Cross Award for Religious Writer of the Year in 2004

References

External links

Gledhill articles on the Journalisted website
1959 births Living people British journalists People from Uttoxeter British women journalists Writers from Staffordshire {{UK-journalist-stub