‘Dazzling Darkness’ author steps down after four years as OTN Patron
Former Patron Rachel Mann (right) with OTN Secretary Neil Rees and Director Kieran Bohan at the charity’s 2022 national gathering.
IN 2020, as the Open Table Network prepared to become a charity, we asked several notable Christians who identify as LGBTQIA+, or as allies, to become our patrons. They have advocated for our Network, speaking about us and supporting us in the public eye. We are proud that these people believe in what we're doing and want to have their names associated with us.
We introduced our Patrons in a series of webinars starting in November 2020, when our former Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young interviewed Anglican priest, poet, writer and broadcaster Rachel Mann.
This year Alex stepped down as Co-Chair and became a Patron. Now Rachel, who became Archdeacon of Bolton and of Salford in 2023, is stepping down as a Patron to focus on her duties as an Archdeacon and her prolific writing career.
Her first book, the critically-acclaimed Dazzling Darkness: Gender, Sexuality, Illness and God, a memoir of growing up transgender in the 1970s and ‘80s, was revised and republished in 2020. She has published more than ten other books including the Michael Ramsey Prize-nominated Fierce Imaginings, the Forward Prizes commended A Kingdom of Love, and a novel, The Gospel of Eve.
In her 2021 book Still Standing, a Lent course based on the Elton John movie Rocketman, she wrote:
'...consider attending a service run by the Open Table Network which works to ensure that LGBT+ people have as strong a sense of home in the church as straight people'.
Her latest book, Do Not Be Afraid: The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear (London: SPCK) is the Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2024.
Rachel also contributes to radio programmes on BBC Radio, including Sunday Worship, in which she incorporated a reflection on the ministry of the Open Table Network in September 2020.
In her message to the Open Table Network on becoming a Patron in 2020, Rachel said:
‘May we know that we too are children of God's delight, and that through the Open Table Network God's love is known felt and heard.’
Watch Rachel’s message here [4 mins]
In her webinar interview with Alex, they discussed a wide range of questions, including why the Open Table Network matters to her, and how people be supportive allies to trans people. Rachel said:
‘when we go deep within ourselves as LGBTQIA+ people we know that we have nothing to be ashamed of in regard of that identity, but it's always got to be relational, and when you have a community like Open Table saying “Look, God recognizes that and celebrates that”, that just becomes a place where our hearts can soar’.
Watch the recording here [60 minutes]
OTN Director Kieran Bohan said:
‘Given the toxic climate for trans folk just now, it has been good to be able to demonstrate that OTN has been guided by trans leaders like Rachel Mann and Alex Clare-Young. We are so grateful for Rachel and wish her well.’
OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs said:
‘Rachel has been a fantastic supporter of Open Table. Her example has inspired us as she has succeeded in her writing and her work within the Church. There was a time when it was impossible to believe that a trans person could progress so far. Her example offers real hope to many others. We wish her every success in this next stage of life.’
