A Faringdon woman becomes only the fifth woman padre in the British Army (From Herald Series)

A Faringdon woman becomes only the fifth woman padre in the British Army

2:42pm Monday 23rd November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A FARINGDON woman has become only the fifth female padre in the British Army.

The Rev Clare Callanan, 51, flew out to Germany on Sunday to get to know the soldiers of 35 Engineer Regiment. When she returns to the UK in February, she must undertake a ten-week course at Sandhurst for doctors, dentists, chaplains and lawyers joining the army. In the ranks, it’s known as the “tarts and vicars” course.

The former primary school teacher, of Coxwell Road, said: “There is a real need in the Army for more chaplains. There are 158 chaplains in total and every unit wants one. Every commanding officer is saying they want a padre because they see the role there is to offer moral guidance and spiritual support.”

She said: “Part of the appeal for me is about ministering to an age group between 18 and the late 20s that isn’t especially often seen in church. A lot of the issues are exactly the same — families, broken marriages, relationship, financial issues. It is all the things that happen in civilian life but with the twist of the pressures of a military environment.”

After completing a six-week chaplaincy course at Amport House, Andover, last week, the mother-of-two became just the fifth chaplain to the Army.

She said: “I was told in training that I won’t be able to make any mistakes because some people will put it down to being a female. There still is a mindset like that in the Church.”

Husband Frank, 66, will stay in the UK until their youngest daughter Dominie, 17, completes her business studies course at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, but will then fly out to join his wife in Germany. They both know she could be sent to Afghanistan in the near future.

Mr Callanan, a former RAF meteorologist, said: “Having gone into the ministry, she always thought of being a chaplain rather than a parish minister. I’m retired now, so it’s my time to support her.”

Mrs Callanan, who was ordained as a United Reformed Church minister five years ago, said: “It is a major, major life change and a major career change. If the unit goes to Afghanistan, I will go with them. I don’t yet know when they will be deployed. It won’t be in the next 18 months, but after that it is a strong possibility.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)