A LIFE OF TRANSFORMATION
Born and raised in Bromley, Kent in the comfortable south-east area of England, Maggie Stringer’s journey led her far beyond the confines of familiarity.
From pioneering work in adult literacy and numeracy to theological research that challenged traditional power structures, Maggie’s career has been dedicated to education, justice, and transformation.
After attending her local grammar school, Maggie graduated from university with BSc (Hons) in Human Relations, then obtained a PGCE before teaching at a secondary school working with disenchanted and disengaged teenagers. In 1975, while living in Dorset, she developed pioneering work in adult literacy and numeracy before returning to university.
There, she obtained a Diploma and a Masters in Theology, and eventually became a Methodist Minister in the Thames Valley area.
It was a time which deepened Maggie’s search for meaning, but it was her years in Bolivia that redefined her understanding of resilience, cultural barriers, and the power of community.
Her research had led Maggie to developing an interest in the very different cultures of the poor in South America, and following six weeks of intensive study of Spanish in Costa Rica, she was sent to work in Bolivia, completing her PhD in 1999.
The doctorate was an investigation into the interconnection of wealth, power and gender in first and third world liberation theologies. Returning to the UK in 2001, Maggie became the Methodist Chaplain at Sheffield University.
In 2005 after retiring, she and her husband, David, permanently moved to South West Wales.
In Breaking Barriers, Maggie shares her deeply personal experiences working alongside disenfranchised women in South America. Through their courage and determination, she witnessed a profound redefinition of strength, leadership, and collective empowerment. Her story is one of breaking through systemic oppression, rediscovering purpose, and embracing the uncertainty that comes with true change.