This Is Your Life: Edward Chad Varah

The Reverend Edward Chad VARAH (1911-2007)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - The Reverend Edward Chad Varah, CH CBE, Anglican priest, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

He is best remembered as the founder of The Samaritans, established in 1953 as the world's first crisis hotline organisation, offering non-religious telephone support to those contemplating suicide.

He was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England in 1935 and as a priest in 1936. After several postings, he became rector of St Stephen Walbrook, in the City of London, where, in the crypt of the church he founded charity hotline which received its first call on 2 November 1953.

programme details...

Edition No: 152
Subject No: 152
Broadcast live: Mon 20 Feb 1961
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 6
Edition: 23

on the guest list...

Barry Williamson
'Mary'
Father Eric Reid
Reginald Rozee
Bastiaan Mahieu
Susan – wife
Pamela Webber
Roger Martyn
'Julian Graham'
Mary Bruce
Rev John Eldred
'Robert'
Vivien Prosser

production team...

Researcher: Ronald Vivian
Writer: Ronald Vivian
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

A Charitable Life

the unsung heroes

Life's Vocation

celebrating the 'men of God'

Edward Chad Varah with Eamonn Andrews and guests on This Is Your Life

Series 6 subjects