Constance Coltman
Encyclopedia
Constance Coltman was one of the first women ordained
to Christian ministry in Britain
, when she was ordained by the Congregational Union of England and Wales
at the King's Weigh House
(Congregational Church), London, on 17 September 1917. Her husband, Claud Coltman, was ordained alongside her, the day before their marriage. (A decade earlier Gertrude von Petzold became minister at Narborough Road Free Christian (Unitarian
) church, Leicester
, after studying at Manchester College, Oxford. A generation earlier, in 1880, the Glasgow
Universalists ordained Caroline Soule.)
Constance Todd grew up in a Presbyterian
family, and went to read history in Somerville College, Oxford
, after attending Saint Felix School
, Southwold
.
She became conscious of her call to ministry, but was told that it would be impossible in the Presbyterian Church of England. In 1909, the Congregational Council considered the question of ordaining women, after discussions on the possibility of women deacons and elders occurred in the Presbyterian and Congregational
churches. The principal of the (then) Congregational college, Mansfield College, Oxford
, W. B. Selbie, was persuaded that her call was genuine and accepted her as a student there, where she obtained her London Bachelor of Divinity
degree.
Her candidacy for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments was tested and accepted by the King's Weigh House congregation in Mayfair
, in 1917. After her ordination, presided by W. E. Orchard (a Presbyterian who later became a Roman Catholic
priest
) and assisted by Congregationalist ministers, she ministered there jointly with her husband, Claud Coltman.
The two of them ministered in Kilburn, Oxford
, Wolverton
, and Haverhill
, returning in King's Weigh House after World War II
. Both were convinced pacifist
s throughout their lives. Her last pastorate was Cowley Road Congregational Church in Oxford.
She was not a campaigner, but supported younger women who felt called to ministry, and helped found the Fellowship of Women Ministers and the Society for the Ministry of Women. She was a friend of the Anglican
supporter of women's ordination
, Maude Royden, and contributed a chapter to Royden's book The Church and Women (1924).
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
to Christian ministry in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, when she was ordained by the Congregational Union of England and Wales
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
at the King's Weigh House
King's Weigh House
The King's Weigh House today serves as the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile and was formerly the name of a Congregational Church in London.-History:...
(Congregational Church), London, on 17 September 1917. Her husband, Claud Coltman, was ordained alongside her, the day before their marriage. (A decade earlier Gertrude von Petzold became minister at Narborough Road Free Christian (Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
) church, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, after studying at Manchester College, Oxford. A generation earlier, in 1880, the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
Universalists ordained Caroline Soule.)
Constance Todd grew up in a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
family, and went to read history in Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first women's colleges to be founded there...
, after attending Saint Felix School
Saint Felix School
Saint Felix School is an independent school in Southwold, Suffolk.-Notable former pupils:* Jane Benham MBE - played a significant role in preserving Thames sailing barges* Natalie Caine - woodwind player...
, Southwold
Southwold
Southwold is a town on the North Sea coast, in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the North Sea coast at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is around south of Lowestoft and north-east...
.
She became conscious of her call to ministry, but was told that it would be impossible in the Presbyterian Church of England. In 1909, the Congregational Council considered the question of ordaining women, after discussions on the possibility of women deacons and elders occurred in the Presbyterian and Congregational
Congregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
churches. The principal of the (then) Congregational college, Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
, W. B. Selbie, was persuaded that her call was genuine and accepted her as a student there, where she obtained her London Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree.
Her candidacy for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments was tested and accepted by the King's Weigh House congregation in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, in 1917. After her ordination, presided by W. E. Orchard (a Presbyterian who later became a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
) and assisted by Congregationalist ministers, she ministered there jointly with her husband, Claud Coltman.
The two of them ministered in Kilburn, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Wolverton
Wolverton
Wolverton is part of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.Wolverton may also refer to:Places in England:*Wolverton, Dorset*Wolverton, Kent*Wolverton, Hampshire*Wolverton, Shropshire*Wolverton, WarwickshirePlaces in the United States:...
, and Haverhill
Haverhill, Suffolk
Haverhill is an industrial market town and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England, next to the borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire. It lies southeast of Cambridge and north of central London...
, returning in King's Weigh House after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Both were convinced pacifist
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
s throughout their lives. Her last pastorate was Cowley Road Congregational Church in Oxford.
She was not a campaigner, but supported younger women who felt called to ministry, and helped found the Fellowship of Women Ministers and the Society for the Ministry of Women. She was a friend of the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
supporter of women's ordination
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, Maude Royden, and contributed a chapter to Royden's book The Church and Women (1924).