Charity & social welfare

Varah, Edward Chad (4 of 6) National Life Stories: Pioneers in Charity and Social Welfare

  • Add a note
    Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
  • All notes
  • My notes
  • Hide notes
Please click to leave a note

The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »

Tags (top 25):
(No tags found for this item)

What is this? Log in to add a term that describes this item and help make it easier to find.

  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:31:23

  • Shelf mark

    C1155/03

  • Subjects

    Volunteering Services

  • Recording date

    2004-12-09, 2005-01-05

  • Recording locations

    The British Library

  • Interviewees

    Varah, Edward Chad (1911-2007) (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    Dillon, Niamh (speaker, female)

  • Abstract

    Part 4: Founding the Samaritans - the problem of suicide - wanting to identify people at risk. Story about offering the telephone number - Mansion House 9000 - to those who were despairing. Positive response from the press. Promotion of a listening therapy - the need for the suicidal to have someone's undivided attention. Explains importance of being non-judgemental and not giving advice. How people approached the Samaritans. The role of the Samaritans. CV's parish in the City having no parishioners. Talks about his church, St. Stephen's Walbrook. Length of time as Rector there. Sung Eucharist every Thursday. Attitude of the Church of England towards the Samaritans - CV's determined character. Role of the City of London churches. Explains legal position towards attempted suicide in the early 1950s. Lack of provision for the suicidal prior to the Samaritans. Establishing music at St.Stephen's Walbrook. Describes the congregation. Talks about the first Samaritans. The spread of the Samaritans nationally and internationally. An important aspect of Samaritans was that it was not religious. Parable of the good Samaritan. Qualities looked for in a Samaritan: humility being most important.

  • Description

    Life story interview with Chad Varah (1911-2007), clergyman and founder of Samaritans.

  • Related transcripts

    Chad Varah interviewed by Niamh Dillon: full transcript of the interview

  • Metadata record:

    View full metadata for this item