HUNDREDS gathered to pay tribute to a 'zealous' and active member of Kendal's community.

Jenny Ottewell, a key member of Kendal's Community Theatre (KCT) and committed Christian woman, passed away on June 27, aged 77.

A celebration service was held at St Thomas’ Parish Church, Kendal, for Ms Ottewell, on July 7 attended by around 300 people.

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Born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, on August 22, 1939, to Cedric and Joan Ottewell, Ms Ottewell was a teacher in the UK before going on to spend a significant portion of her life in Uganda. 

She served as a Church Mission Society missionary with the Church of Uganda from 1975-2001, as the Diocesan Education Secretary in Ruwenzori Diocese and Bunyoro Kitara Diocese and worked as the Provincial Children's Ministry Coordinator at the Provincial Secretariat from 1987-2001.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Stanley Ntagali, passed his condolences.

"Jenny leaves a legacy for her zeal, passion and commitment to the Church of Uganda while with us in Uganda and even when she left to England," he said.

"She has lived as a witness, ambassador of Christ and fought a good fight. We will miss her but we know that she has gone to be with the Lord."

Her family, including her brother Guy who lives in Greenwich, are scattered across the world and she has relatives in both Portugal and America.

When she returned to the UK in 2001, she went to live in St Albans. It was in 2005 that Ms Ottewell moved to Kendal, living on Dockray Hall Road and fully immersing herself in Kendal's community.

She was a member of St Thomas' Church and a strong supporter of Churches Together in Kentdale.

Driven by her Christian faith, she was involved in the Restorative Justice program at Haverigg Prison, volunteered at Manna House and was passionate about Christian Aid.

She was also a keen walker and used her talents as an artist to record the sights she saw on her outings.

A talented writer and avid reader, Ms Ottewell wrote books and worked to support Market Place Christian Bookshop, creating postcards, rotas and marketing ideas.

It was in 2011 that Ms Ottewell heard that KCT was to produce A Passion for Kendal at Easter 2012.

She took up the project with enthusiasm, championed the production through contacts made in her numerous activities and became KCT’s official photographer.

In 2015 she supported KCT by writing a play for Kendal Yarns Festival of New Plays.

As an advocate for girls’ education her play The Mill Yard Yarn, was about a young girl in the 19th century cloth trade trying to learn to read well enough to apply to the Friends’ School in Stramongate.

"KCT will miss Jenny – she was forthright, courageous, laconic, funny and very creative," said Caroline Moir, chair of KCT Management Committee.