Chad Varah
Chad Varah was a British Anglican priest and social activist who founded the Samaritans, the world's first crisis hotline, to provide support to those contemplating suicide.
Religious Leader
November 12, 1911
Scorpio
November 08, 2007
95
November 12, 1911
Edward Chad Varah CH CBE (12 November 1911 â 8 November 2007) was a British Anglican priest and social activist from England, best known for establishing the Samaritans in 1953, the world’s first crisis hotline. Varah devoted his life to offering emotional support and care to individuals in distress, particularly those considering suicide. In addition to founding the Samaritans, his accomplishments include writing books on religion and pastoral care, serving as a chaplain to the British army during World War II, and receiving numerous honors for his contributions to society.
During his college years, Varah worked as an assistant in the library of the Royal School of Mines, where he developed an interest in geology and mineralogy. His wife, Susan, served as a president of the Mothers’ Union. The Samaritans, which Varah founded, has been providing support to those in need for over 70 years. His work in various parishes in the City of London exposed him to the daily distress experienced by many people. Varah’s Samaritans hotline revolutionized crisis support and became a model for similar services worldwide.
