Alex Middleton-Laing

Hello, I'm Alex, and I'm working with Rory at Haxby and Wiggington Methodist Church. Essentially, I'm a labrador: I'm good natured, partial to naps and snacks, and I need to be walked every day!

Before I became a minister I had a long career in teaching, being both departmental and pastoral heads in secondary schools. My main subject was Religion and Philosophy up to and including A Level. I absolutely loved teaching. However, I'd been resisting the calling to ministry since I was seven years old, and it was time to listen. I candidated for ministry, as it's called in Methodism, and then trained at Queen's, Birmingham on a not-for-credit basis.

I have always loved theology. My school had excellent RE teachers and I credit Dr Brown for giving me the desire to study Theology at Durham University. She made it fascinating, particularly the Roman context of the Gospels. I found I could connect with Jesus through studying. I wasn't raised in a Christian context and chose to attend the local Methodist Church as a teenager because I felt welcomed and valued. I'm so glad I did! After university I completed my PGCE at Cambridge.

Reading and studying has always kept me theologically curious and I had a wonderful year studying for my Master's in Theology at Manchester University. My dissertation was the catchily (?!) titled 'Menopause and the conceptualisation of the female body in the Hebrew Bible', for which I was awarded the Brandon Memorial Religions and Theology Prize. In ministry, have enjoyed supporting women during perimenopause. My other area of interest is inclusivity, being neurodivergent myself. I wish for churches to be fully inclusive, celebrating what makes each of us unique and growing together. If we come as we are, we can worship in ways which are authentic. We don't have to be anything other than ourselves, which is how God loves us. I aim to make space for everyone to be themselves in church.

2025-26 is the year of my 55th birthday. I'm hoping to have 55 walks this Connexional year. If you would like to walk with me, please contact me. You define the walk (it doesn't have to be on two feet), the length and the location. For example, one of the loveliest walks I've had recently, was being carefully and slowly walked around a small garden, being shown a collection of solar lights. It was a beautiful time of sharing what was important. The thing I love most about being a minister is being trusted with people's stories and it's something that I never take for granted.

When I'm not working, I love to spend time with my wife, Carrie, and our three adult children. And walking, napping and snacking!

Alex works with the following churches:
Easingwold Methodist Church
Villages Together Methodist Church
Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church