The founder of the Samaritans

WEEK 4
Care
The founder of the Samaritans

Chad Varah, Rector of St Stephen, Walbrook and founder of the Samaritans, died aged 95 on 8 November 2007. The very next day The Times published a full-page obituary. There cannot be many Anglican clergy, other than archbishops, who might receive such an accolade. It began:

It was as the leader and inspirer of the Samaritans, founded to befriend the suicidal and despairing, that Chad Varah’s name became known worldwide. The idea of the organisation, which came to him in his forties, transformed his life. He brought to the task not just a strong personality and a natural compassion but also a firm grasp on the value of publicity combined with a gift for showmanship...