‘I loved my church – until infertility made it unbearable’

Two miscarriages and years of infertility left Debbie Newson traumatised – and church, once her spiritual home, became the place she most needed to avoid. She explains what went wrong, and why understanding the effects of trauma can go a long way 

It’s commonly said that around 20 per cent of a congregation do 80 per cent of the work. If that’s true, Debbie and Ed Newson were firmly among that 20 per cent at their Baptist church in Cambridgeshire.

Ed regularly led worship. Debbie preached and served on the leadership team. For twelve years, church wasn’t just where they worshipped – it was their home and their main source of friendship and community.