Meet the women at Charlotte - Miriam

This post marks the next in a series of interviews with different women who are part of the Charlotte Chapel family.  We hope to allow you to hear a little about the different lives we live, what makes us tick and how we seek to grow in our faith.  This time, we would like you to meet Miriam.

Q: Thank you for sharing something of your story Miriam. Could you tell us your favourite Christian song or hymn so readers can listen while they read on?

A : Hmm. There are many!  However, the song that I had at my baptism and that I just keep coming back to is 'In Christ Alone' so I would probably go for that one.

Q: Can you tell us how you became a Christian?

A: I grew up in a Christian family - parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins! - and my parents work in full-time ministry.  So from day dot I have both continually heard about God's love, grace & mercy and seen it reflected in the lives of those closest to me. There isn't really a time when I can pinpoint a transition from unbelief to belief.  However, it was when I was primary school aged that I realised the need for a personal relationship with Christ.  At that point I shared a bedroom with my brother so I remember curling up under my pink duvet cover one night & asking Jesus to forgive my sins & come into my heart.

Q: What would be your desert island book? (we'll let you take the Bible of course!)

A: Les Miserables - I have been slowly plodding through it off & on since before the film came out, perhaps some time on a desert island would help me to finish!

Q. Where is your favourite place to be?

A: That's a tricky one!  If I say that I was born in England, attended high school in Wales and have a good dose of both Scottish and Northern Irish blood you might begin to see why.  Between moving house and travelling to visit family & friends there are multiple places that feel like a piece of 'home' and where I enjoy being.  So it's hard to choose one and it probably changes depending on what is happening and who is at each location at a given time!  For the moment I am utterly thankful to be in Edinburgh.  It is a beautiful city that I never tire of exploring and my friends here & the church family at Charlotte have helped it to feel very much like home. 

Q: What is your signature dish in the kitchen?
A: Reading these questions first time round I honestly didn't think I had one.  I found my answer standing in the kitchen at the weekend making lasagne for the umpteenth time, barely looking at my bolognese splattered student cookbook.  It is by no means spectacular but it is my go-to at the moment.

Q:  We are asking everyone to share what they might be doing at 2pm on a Wednesday, to give us a flavour of the different lives we lead.

A: I started my PhD in September so on a typical Wednesday (most days, in fact!) you would probably find me at my desk or in the library, probably with a pile of papers and a selection of coloured pens to hand. 

Q: Finally, what brings you the greatest joy?
A: Definitely spending time with friends and family.  This could be catching up over tea & cake, visiting much-loved sites or an evening at the theatre.  The main feature would be time spent talking about everything and laughing about nothing with a fond friend!

Thanks to Miriam for sharing some of her story.  Do feel free to suggest other women who you would like to get to know through these interviews.