Funeral of Rev Norah Norris AM
Wednesday July 23, 2025
Rev Paul Turley
Organ: Mr Noel Tiver
Moderator's Pastoral Note
19 July 2025
Rev Norah Aliene Norris
26 June 1930 to 14 July 2025
It is with sadness that I am informing you that Rev Norah Aliene Norris died on Monday 24th July 2025.
Norah was born at Memorial Hospital, North Adelaide and grew up in the Woodville area, attending Woodville Primary and High Schools. After completing her secondary education at Adelaide High, she studied at Adelaide Teachers’ College and the University of Adelaide.
From childhood, Norah was active in the Woodville Presbyterian Church. After three years teaching, Norah answered a call to serve God in the Deaconess Order within the Presbyterian Church. In 1953. she entered the Presbyterian Training College for Deaconesses and Missionaries (Rolland House in Carlton) and began her course of study which also included lectures at Ormond College, at the University of Melbourne. Norah remembered with much pleasure that she was a student in the first class to sit under Professor Davis McCaughey, newly arrived from Ireland.
In January 1956, Norah was commissioned as a Deaconess by the Presbytery of Adelaide. Her first appointment was to Hamilton (1956-57) and then Horsham (1958-61). During her time at St. Margaret’s Burwood, Norah was half-time in the parish and half-time at Presbyterian Ladies’ College where she taught scripture and shared in boarding house duties. After a time at Burwood and Mount Waverley (a new extension area) she moved to Shepparton in 1966. By this time, she had become known as a good visitor, an encourager, strong and courageous in her thinking and speaking, with a good sense of humour.
The Presbyterian Church in South Australia was happy when Norah accepted an invitation to return and become Field Officer of the Department of Christian Education. With her quiet, friendly personality, blended with a keen mind and a capacity for hard work, Norah became a highly respected and valued leader of the Church.
From 1969-70 she was Clerk of the Presbytery of Torrens. It was a fitting recognition of her ability when in 1972 the South Australian Assembly appointed her part-time Clerk of the Assembly - the first woman to hold this position - in addition to her work in Christian education.
In the variety of activities which led up to Church Union, Norah was a member of the Joint Advisory Council, which created and supervised joint parishes. She travelled widely through the state helping parishes prepare to vote on Church Union. She made many interstate visits to meetings of the Joint Constitutional Council, which struggled with the complex questions of how the three separate churches could become one. Norah’s ability to think clearly and not be easily flustered was greatly valued during this time.
Norah’s ecumenical activities included membership and leadership within the South Australian Synod. She was a member of the Executive and Planning Committee, as well as being President for two terms. While President, she became the first ordained woman to preach in St. Peter's Cathedral, during an ecumenical service. In recognition of her ecumenical gifts and interests, Norah was also invited to be vice president of 'The Australian Church Women'.
Norah was the first woman to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church in South Australia. This ordination was a memorable and significant occasion, taking place during a meeting of the General Assembly at Scotch College in October 1976.
After the inauguration of the Uniting Church, Norah continued in administration during 1977, before being appointed to Ardrossan in 1978.
From 1979–83 Norah worked as one of the first ministers in the Gilles Parish, with special responsibilities at Broadview. This was followed by a move to Port Pirie in 1984 where she particularly enjoyed working with children, helping them understand that they belonged in the Church. In five years, she baptised 40 young people who requested baptism.
Her enjoyment in working with children and helping them grow in the faith included planning youth camps and designing study programs. Norah’s supervision of the Mail Bag Sunday School allowed her to help isolated children, especially through her self-directed study lessons.
Norah left Port Pirie in 1989 to take up an Assembly appointment as part-time Secretary of the Commission on Liturgy. In addition to this work, she was the 'part-time' Interim Chaplain at Modbury Hospital (1989) and Interim Minister in the Lower Murray Parish (1990).
With a deep sense of the importance of worship, Norah became a respected member of the Uniting Church Assembly Commission on Liturgy. Her ability to put words together and her strong memory were greatly valued by her colleagues on the Commission as together they produced the first volume of 'Uniting in Worship' (1988).
In retirement, Norah was an active member of Scots Uniting Church and continued taking on roles with Adult Fellowships, Inter-Church women and Frontier Services.
Norah continued to serve wherever she saw a need to provide practical care and spiritual support, along with the ability to offer theological reflection and leadership into her ninth decade.
In 2021, Norah was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant leadership and work, serving first the Presbyterian and then the Uniting Church in Australia. Norah is recognised by many, for her advocacy for women in leadership and her contribution to Christian Education and Mission.
We give thanks to God for the many and varied ways in which Norah freely gave her gifts for service within the Church, and we also offer our prayers for God’s peace and comfort for her family and friends as they grieve.
Family and friends are invited to attend Norah’s funeral service at 10 am on Wednesday 23 July at Scots Uniting Church, 237 North Terrace, Adelaide.
Grace and peace,
Rev Peter Morel
Moderator