Apothercary 2016

Profile of the Master’s Chaplain
The Rev’d Susannah Underwood
I was born in Barnet – a 70’s power cut child - and
grew up in Welwyn in Hertfordshire, three miles
from the parishes I now serve.
The Rev Susannah Underwood
Apart from a fleeting desire, aged 10, to become a
monk (they seemed so much more fun than the nuns
I had met), I don’t think anyone would have guessed
that I would enter into full-time ministry. Not least
because, when I was growing up, women’s
ordination was not yet authorized by the Church of
England. Even some years after having completed a
Theology degree at Westminster College, Oxford, it
still came as a surprise to me, as much as to anyone
else.
I trained for ordination with the Cambridge
Theological Federation of colleges, completing an
MA in Pastoral Theology and allowing me to
balance family life with work as well as studies.
They were a busy three years, but set me up well for
the practice of juggling the competing demands of
parish ministry.
I was ordained deacon in 2008 and served a
curacy in Stevenage. It was a good place to be. The
command to ‘love your neighbour’ is shown by the
churches of Stevenage in a variety of ways. There
was the historic establishing of ‘The Haven’, a
shelter for the homeless. ‘Street Pastors’, see trained
volunteers from the churches go out into the early
hours of the weekend to ensure drunken revelers
are given a bit of TLC and a safe passage to get
home. ‘The Living Room’ is a Christian-run centre,
supporting those wrestling with addictions, and a
place I got quite involved with. If you struggle to
believe in resurrection, that is the place to see it for
yourself.
It was also in Stevenage that I became connected
to the charity Mercy Ships, which I talk about in my
sermon for Master’s Day. This international charity
had its UK office in our parish, and they asked me
to act as chaplain for the three years I was there.
In 2011, I moved to my current position as Team
Vicar within the Welwyn Team of churches. I have
particular responsibility for two beautiful village
parishes, All Saints Datchworth (where I live), and
St. Peter’s Tewin (where Derek Adams is a part of
the congregation).
5