The Church of England has appointed its first transgender archdeacon.

Rev Canon Rachel Mann has been made Archdeacon of Bolton and Salford, having ministered in the Diocese of Manchester for the last 18 years.

Canon Rachel who is also an author and radio commentator, served her curacy at St Matthew’s Church, Stretford before taking on the role of Priest-in-Charge and later Rector at the Church of St Nicholas, Burnage. In June 2021, she left St Nicholas Burnage to take on her current role of Area Dean of Bury and Rossendale.