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Another U R C Tradition Pioneer

Madge Saunders - Church Leader and Community Development Worker

Born in Jamaica. Studied Mission at (Presbyterian) St. Colm’s
House, Edinburgh 1946-49.

1965-75 at Burngreave, Sheffield, where Afro-Caribbean
community growing, looking for homes, jobs and churches, and
experiencing racism and prejudice: when more than 10 immigrants
joined a church the host congregation would leave, creating a
financial crisis!

Madge was invited by the minister of St James Presbyterian (now
URC) church to help him promote greater understanding towards
immigrants. She focussed on the welfare of children and families,
starting a playgroup, running Girl Guides and Girls Brigade
classes, family worship in her flat, and advice sessions for
immigrants; and became a Deaconess.

She “was on call 24 hours a day”, gave talks, led community
discussions and study groups, spoke at conferences and on local
radio and TV, suffering graffiti painted on her door after an
interview about Enoch Powell with a local paper.

She realised that the whole church needed to be united in
combating racism, not just one denomination, so worked in an
ecumenical project with a group of churches, served on the Race
Relations Committee, and played a part in national ecumenical
consultations.

Madge supported all sections of the community, and tackled issues
that many shied away from: nutrition for children, support for
teachers, leadership for young people etc. A reception in honour of
her was held in the Town Hall when she left to return to Jamaica.
There she became the first woman to be ordained in The United
Church of Jamaica (UJC), persistently supported and empowered
ordinary people, and had a Training Centre named after her.

She summed up her philosophy “sometimes you have to break
certain traditions and laws to bring about positive change”.

Refs. “Daughter of Dissent” by E.Kaye, J. Lees and K.Thorpe (Pub. URC 2004)
and her biography in Jamaica: “Born to Serve: the pioneering ministry of
M.P. Saunders” (Faith Works Press 2005) Submitted by Brian Wilkins
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