Audrey Anne Elkington (born 1 November 1957) is a retired British Anglican priest.
[2] She studied Biochemistry at St Catherine's College, University of Oxford,[1] graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1980; she then undertook post-graduate research at the University of East Anglia where she completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1983[2] — entitled "Streptomyces gene fusions involving the Escherichia coli B-glactosidase gene".
[2] Elkington felt the call to ministry during her postgraduate studies,[1] but the Church of England did not at that time ordain women.
[3] In 1992, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to ordain women and she began the path to priesthood.
[2] She was made deacon at Petertide 1992 (17 July) at St Mary the Virgin, Ponteland (where she was already serving)[4] and ordained priest on 15 May 1994 (during the first year women were ordained priests) at Newcastle Cathedral — both times by Ken Gill, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle.