Out & About: Catching up with Denmark’s first female Anglican vicar

The capital’s Anglican and Episcopal church, St Alban’s by Churchillparken, has a new chaplain.

On June 16, Revd Smitha Prasadam was officially installed and licensed at a service led by Archdeacon Colin Williams.

Smitha, who was born in South India but has lived most of her life in Britain, describes herself as a a “priest, theologian, apostle, evangelist and steward”.

Ordained in the Church of England, for the last 11 years Smitha has been serving as the vicar of a parish church in Birmingham. Before that she worked as teacher, trainer and examiner for Cambridge University and Trinity College, London – work that took her all over Europe.

As naturally as breathing
She replaces Darren McCallig, who left his position as chaplain last year to take a position in Oslo, and she is the church’s first ever female chaplain.

“My love of God began in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh as a very young child at my grandmother’s feet where, as family and neighbourhood we gathered nightly on her verandah in the cool of the evening to feast on scripture, prayer and fellowship in the Gospel,” she told st-albans.dk.

“This came as naturally as breathing and permeates everything.”

Meet her at the August fete
The wider Copenhagen international community will have a chance to meet the new chaplain at the annual St Alban’s Fete on August 25.

This year’s affair, which will continue from 10:00 to 17:00, includes all the regulars – the brilliant bargains at the mostly English-language bookstore, homemade Anglo goodies, cream teas, burgers and bric-a-brac – along with a bouncy castle for the kids and the legendary Jane Austen dancers.