The Assistant Chaplain, Revd Samantha Ferguson

Hello and thank you for clicking on the page about me!
Let me tell you a bit about myself, so that if you are curious about coming to see me for a chat, you will feel as if you already know me a little.

A long time ago, I was born in Kent and grew up in Guernsey, Channel Islands. After sitting my A Levels, I returned to the mainland to do a BA in Social Sciences at Bristol University. However, in my second year, my mother died and I dropped out of uni to look after my father and my sister. Over the next few years I worked for Shell, London and Oxford Instruments, Oxford.

I am married to Scott who was an RAF Engineer and we ended up in Scotland when he was posted here to RAF Leuchars in 1998.  We have one daughter, Robina, who is a Mental Health Nurse and two dogs, Tilly and Mungo.

In 2002, I began a four-year full-time Masters of Theology Honours Degree here at St Mary’s College of Divinity, University of St Andrews.  After I graduated in 2006, I did two-years of ministry training through The Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church (TISEC). In 2008 I was ordained Deacon in St Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, Aberdeen.  
I served my Curacy at St John’s, Aberdeen and St Peter’s, Torry before I was appointed Priest-In-Charge at St Ninian’s Church, King Street in 2010.  In 2014 I became Rector of Montrose and Inverbervie Episcopal Churches and in 2017, I was installed as Rector of Pittenweem and Elie Episcopal Churches.
  
The Assistant Chaplain’s post at the University was created in 2018 and is, quite frankly, my dream job!  So I was delighted when I was offered the post and began working for my alma mater in January 2019.

My main priority at the Chaplaincy is to provide pastoral support for all staff and students.  I focus especially on those who are grieving through the monthly lunch time Grief Groups I have set up for staff and students.  No one has to grieve alone at our university.

I hold a Permission to Officiate (PTO) awarded to me by the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane and so I, along with Donald, provide the weekly pattern of Christian Worship services held during semester in the University Chapels – Sunday Chapel, Evensong, Holy Communion and Compline.  I also conduct weddings, funerals, memorials, baptisms and special services.

I have been a Christian since a child and my faith has been a fundamental force throughout my life. I am passionate about Celtic spirituality; both Taizé and Iona have been very special places of pilgrimage in my spiritual journey. I am trained as an Ignation Faith Accompanier and have a Spiritual Director. 
 
My hobbies are varied from swimming to singing, but if you see your Assistant Chaplain with her nose in a trashy detective novel, do not be surprised! 
 
So now you know more about me, please don’t be shy.  Come and say hello at the Chaplaincy, at Chapel or even on the street! We are here to listen and support everyone in our university family and you will be most welcome. 
 
Blessings 
Samantha.