Julie grew up in the church and community in Earby where she now serves as minister. After leaving school, she studied Human Biology at Newcastle University, before training as a science teacher and working in secondary schools in the North
East and Cumbria. Julie met her husband, Stuart, at university and after the birth of their first child in 2001, they moved to the West Craven area, where they have lived ever since.

After their second child was born, Julie became a primary school teacher and began to explore leadership roles in the Baptist church, with a particular interest in making a positive difference in the local community. Over the years, Julie has worked in
partnership with others to develop projects in the church and community, such as establishing an independent Food Bank, leading ecumenical missional and charity projects and serving as a school governor.

This interest in church and community partnerships developed and, after wrestling with a sense of call for a few years, Julie began training as a Baptist pioneer minister at Northern Baptist College in 2019. This included completing an MA in Contextual Theology at Luther King Centre in Manchester.

In September 2022, Julie was ordained as the minister in her home church and since then has continued the adventure of faith, seeking to help the church discover how to adapt to a changing world. She is a relational leader, who enjoys helping people connect with God in the beautiful countryside of the North of England. In her spare time, Julie loves hiking and watching films.