The Empire Windrush had arrived at Tilbury, carrying the first Caribbean immigrants to Britain. Others followed; many were enthusiastic Christians. But who was to minister to them? The call went out from Sheffield for a man to come from Jamaica to pastor to his own folk.  The man who came was a woman: Madge Saunders.

The story of Madge’s ministry is familiar, up to a point: a life-long dedication to the mission of the Church took her away from home to work overseas. A period of work in the mission field was completed and she returned home. The difference was that Madge was one of the first partners in mission to come to Europe, rather than go from there.

She was dedicated and commissioned as a missionary to England in 1965 and became the only black woman ever to be ordained deaconess in the Presbyterian Church of England. She served for ten years at St. James’ Presbyterian Church, Sheffield.

She later wrote ‘Often barriers between people have been brought about because of fear, the repetition of rumours, misconceptions and misleading propaganda. Because of these negative attitudes, conflicts and tensions on both sides have been the result. I have been called upon at all hours of the day and night to act as mediator.’

On her return home, after nearly ten years in Britain, Madge was ordained as the first woman minister in the United Church of Jamaica.  In 2002 she was reunited with some of her friends  when a small group from St James’ Church visited. She recalled many of the highs and low of her time in Sheffield: the work with young people was especially dear to her. But she also remembered the racism, graffiti on the walls and door of her flat, and her response on local radio to remarks by Enoch Powell.

Madge Saunders died on 2 March 2009, having just celebrated her 96th birthday.

See more pictures and add your own memories of Madge Saunders on Novice Blogger, the blog of the Revd Janet Lees.

The picture shows Madge Saunders, on her arrival in Sheffield, with the Revd Robert Gillespie, minister of St James’ Church.