A WOMAN from Oxfordshire has become a padre in the British Army – only the fifth woman to do so.

The Rev Clare Callanan, 51, has flown out to Germany to get to know the soldiers of 35 Engineer Regiment.

When she returns to the UK in February, she must undertake a gruelling 10-week-long course at Sandhurst for doctors, dentists, chaplains and lawyers joining the Army.

In the ranks, it’s known as the “tarts and vicars” course.

The former primary school teacher, of Coxwell Road, Faringdon, said: “There is a real need in the Army for more chaplains. There are 158 chaplains in total and every unit wants one.

“Every Commanding Officer is saying they want a padre because they see the role there is to offer in terms of moral guidance and spiritual support.

“Part of the appeal for me is about ministering to an age group between 18 and the late-20s that isn’t especially often seen in church.

“A lot of the issues are exactly the same – families, broken marriages, relationships, financial issues.

“It is all the things that happen in civilian life but with the twist of the pressures of a military environment.”

After completing a six-week chaplaincy course at Amport House, Andover, last week, the mother-of-two became just the fifth female chaplain in the Army.

She said: “I was told in training that I won’t be able to make any mistakes because some people will put it down to being a female.”

Husband Frank, 66, will stay in the UK until their youngest daughter, Dominie, 17, completes her business studies course at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College before joining his wife in Germany.

They both know she could be sent to Afghanistan, and Mr Callanan, a former meteorologist in the RAF, said: “Having gone into the ministry, she always thought of being a chaplain rather than a parish minister. I’m retired now, so it’s my time to support her.”

Mrs Callanan, who was ordained as a United Reformed Church minister five years ago, added: “If the unit goes to Afghanistan, I will go with them.”