The Revd Clare Callanan has become the first female URC minister to become a regular army chaplain - and is only the fifth woman ever to do so.

As the 35 Engineer Regiment and 3 CS Bn REME Padre, based at Barker Barracks she has been serving the soldiers, officers and families and kept herself busy in the community and other units in Paderborn Garrison.

Clare is a former primary school teacher who passed out from The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst on 15 April 2010, having completed the intensive ten week training course for Professionally Qualified Officers.

She said: “As Padre I have the great privilege of not only serving these men and women but of being accepted by every level of the unit.  I’m particularly enjoying  building relationships with so many 18-26 years olds;  it’s not a demographic we often see in church, and, because my own kids are in that age group, I feel I have the advantage of a bit of insight into their culture and music too.”

Miss Simpson from William Wordsworth school said: “It is good to have a Padre back with us again.  Many demands are made on their time and during deployment they are often away with the troops. There are many challenges for our children with mobility, a parent regularly away, friends coming and going rapidly; all of this makes our children special and they require a resilience that is unique to service children.”

“The Padre is one member of the community who supports us with the care and guidance of our school family. Clare has been taking assembly every Monday morning and visits two classes every week.  The children get much from a member of the chaplaincy department taking assembly as well as meeting and talking with them in their classrooms. This liaison is a vital link between school, the family and the garrison.”

“Over the next few weeks and on into the next academic year Padre Clare will get to know the children and work with them on a variety of themes as well as support their spiritual development. The children are keen to listen and learn from Padre and have already asked a number of in depth questions. Having been a teacher herself she relates well to all in school and she has also taken the opportunity to meet with all members of staff. We look forward to the input, support and guidance that we will receive from Padre Clare during her time in the garrison and working in William Wordsworth.”

Clare has also had a taste of what the soldiers go through, completing assault courses, eight mile marches carrying a 15kg backpack, sleep deprivation and 6am room inspections while at Sandhurst.