Rewarding role at the University of Bradford

She was home for the festive break after her first term at the University of Huddersfield, where she made a decision that was to shape her life - she became a Christian.

She did not look back, going on to train as a vicar. Now she is coordinating chaplain at the University of Bradford, overseeing a team of mostly volunteer chaplains and faith advisors who support staff and students of all faiths and none.

They help people from a range of cultures - Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Buddhist and more - in matters of faith and pastoral concern.

Suzanne has been in the post for two years. She loves her role and is excited to be at the university for the institution’s 50th anniversary this year.

“It enhances and enriches my life to be able to listen to people from all around the world and learn from them about so many things, including how the experience of being a human being looks different depending upon where you come from,” she says.

“It’s also an enormous privilege when people share with you some of the most difficult or most joyful times in their lives. It is fabulous to work in a place where people are always researching and learning new things, working out how to make the world a better place in so many ways, whether in health care, technology, engineering, peace studies or other areas.”

Despite being brought up an atheist, Suzanne always believed in God. “I did not accept that there was no God as my mum always told us,” she says.

Her beliefs turned to something more when she became a student at Huddersfield University. “I was sharing a house with a Christian and I began to look into Christianity. That Christmas I asked my grandad to buy me a bible - I had never seen one before and I wanted to read it, to make up my own mind about things.”

She adds: “My mum thought that it was just a phase I was going through, and that they were just fairy stories.”

But, as the the theatre studies and communication arts student laughs, “It turned out to be a long phase.”

In her final year at university, friends and other people she knew told her that she would make a great vicar. “I thought ‘I’ve only been a Christian for five minutes’, but they kept saying it and so I started to explore the possibility.”

“I have always believed that, during our time on Earth, we should all make a difference to the lives of other people, and that was a key thing.”

After graduating, Suzanne worked for two years as a volunteer for a church in Huddersfield, helping to set up a youth club and drop-in centre on an estate. During this period, she was engaged in the rigorous selection process to train as a Church of England vicar.

A series of interviews were followed by a conference and training exercises. Suzanne was passionate about her commitment.

“I’m an all or nothing person and I thought that if God is true he is going to get all of me or none of me,” she says. “I thought that serving God by loving people was how I wanted to spend my life.”

When she was selected Suzanne was “full of dread but overawed at the same time, at what it was going to mean for the rest of my life.”

She trained at St John’s College in Nottingham, combining her studies with a period as a youth worker in Leeds.

Her proud mum came to witness her ordination at Bradford Cathedral. “She said she totally got it - that it was the best thing for me,” says Suzanne.

Suzanne, who is married to Tom, a music producer, worked for three years at St Cuthbert’s Church in Wrose.“It was challenging and I learned a lot. The people were amazing,” she says.

Work as a high school chaplain in Lancaster followed, then 15 months in Peru, working in a children’s home and school.

As well as her university role Suzanne runs SoulSpace (CORRECT) on Great Horton Road, a church that focuses on the values of community and hospitality. She is also honorary chaplain at Bradford Cathedral.

With an office in the university students’ union, she is at the heart of things. “Students are always milling around. They can come and have a chat or email me.

“I feel as if I am surrounded by people contributing to human flourishing. I consider it an honour to serve the University of Bradford as its chaplain.”

As her mum said, it is the “best job” her daughter could have.

Adds Suzanne: “I spend my days loving and encouraging human beings. If I make the day better for one person then it has been worth it.”