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Regents Park College Oxford

Rev Violet Hedger

In 1919 Rev Violet Hedger was admitted to Regent’s Park College to study to be a Baptist minister.

It was the first time a female had been admitted to the college or any other English Baptist College. Violet gained her BD in 1923 but had difficulty settling in a church. In 1926 Violet was called to be the minister at Littleover Baptist Church and stayed there for for 3 years. Her next pastorate was at North Parade, Halifax from 1934 -1937.

After this, she moved to Zion, Chatham, and remained the minister there throughout the Second World War. During this time the church was bombed once and the manse 3 times. After the last bombing, Violet was discovered in the manse unconscious and buried and suffering injuries that would result in permanent disabilities.

After years of rehabilitation, Violet continued a life in ministry which included her final pastorate at Chalk Farm in 1952, later retiring to Worthing. Violet died in 1992.

In Violet’s Obituary it states she was:

“A pioneer in women’s ministry she battled against family opposition, prejudice, emotional breakdowns and physical disability to fulfil the ministry to which her Lord called her.”

 

 

From the blog

9th October 2020

Mantantu Dundulu, N’lemvo. Linguist, pioneer, man of faith.

To celebrate Black History Month, Dr Daniel Gerrard , Lecturer in Medieval History here at Regent’s, is jumping ahead a few centuries from the...
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