By Grace Allen

For the Reverend Dan Woodman, becoming a pastor wasn’t part of a lifelong plan. Instead, it was a calling that came later, after a successful business career, after raising a family, and after years spent as a faithful churchgoer and lay leader. But now, as the newly installed settled pastor of Norfolk’s Federated Church, he feels like he’s returned to where he was always meant to be.

Though Woodman originally hails from Stamford, Connecticut, both he and his wife, Sue, from Hancock, NY, have deep and unexpected ties to the Norfolk-Medfield area. When the couple moved to Medfield in 1981, they bought a home near the Ralph Wheelock School. It wasn’t until later that they learned that Sue’s ancestor was Ralph Wheelock, who founded Medfield in 1630.

On Woodman’s side, the connections are just as unexpected and meaningful. His father’s family is from Franklin, where Woodman completed his student ministry at Franklin Federated Church, just around the corner from the house his father grew up in. He discovered that his grandfather married his Medfield-born grandmother in 1918 at the Baptist Church in Norfolk, now the Grange Hall, just a mile from Woodman’s current home at Pin Oaks. Woodman also learned, after some research, that his great-great grandparents are buried in the Norfolk Cemetery. 

These discoveries have added a profound personal dimension to his spiritual calling and connection with the community.

“I feel like I’ve come home,” he said.

Woodman’s spiritual journey began in the 1990s when he trained as a Stephen Minister, a lay caregiver offering one-on-one support to individuals in crisis. Later, he served as a chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He loved the work, but it wasn’t until he accepted a role as associate pastor in Leominster that he realized how rewarding parish ministry could be.

“In chaplaincy, you might connect with someone for a day or a week,” he said. “But in a church setting, those connections last years. I found that pretty fulfilling.”

He started seminary out of curiosity in 2008, attending part-time. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on this path, but I stuck my toe in the water and the more I was there, the more I started to swim,” he said.

Before the ministry, Woodman was best known in the region as the owner of the London Harness retail chain. He started with one store in Wellesley in 1981 and eventually acquired the entire chain, including the historic downtown Boston shop.

But like many small business owners, Woodman was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis and had to make the difficult decision to downsize. He returned to the original Wellesley store, which he later sold to two longtime employees—a husband and wife who met and married while working there.

When asked if his experiences as a business owner give him a different perspective as a minister, Woodman says it’s a matter of connecting with people and ministering to whatever it is they need.

“As my wife puts it, ‘My husband used to sell luggage. Now he sells God,’” he joked.

Woodman, 75, sees his role at the Federated Church as more than leading Sunday worship. “I assess my position in three ways,” he explained. “I’m their spiritual leader, but I am also their cheerleader, supporting all the different initiatives they undertake. And I am the public face of the church in the community, kind of their public relations.”

He’s especially proud of the church’s commitment to service, both locally and globally, and the active Christian education program. Like many churches, the Federated Church faces challenges in attracting younger generations. But Woodman sees signs of growth in Norfolk.

He says his preaching style reflects his desire to keep worship relevant and engaging. 

“My goal is to connect, to make the Bible relevant in today’s world. I don’t think it’s that hard to do, because there are consistent values and challenges that transcend history. It’s my job to share a perspective that resonates.”

If Rev. Woodman had to choose one passage of scripture that inspires him, it would be the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

“It’s about reaching out to those who may be different from you,” he reflected. “We all have the same light of God within us, so it’s my duty to honor that light in every person I meet.”

A lifelong music lover, Woodman brings his passion for singing into his pastoral work. He founded Norfolk Note-able Neighbors, an a cappella group composed of residents from Pin Oaks, River’s Edge, and the broader community. The group has performed at church services, town events, and the Senior Center.

In his downtime, Woodman enjoys walking his dog, spending time outdoors, and being with his daughters and grandchildren, who live nearby in Medfield and West Newton.

Contemplating on the road that led him to the pulpit in Norfolk, Rev. Woodman remains grounded in both humility and purpose. “No, I don’t consider it overwhelming,” he said when asked about the weight of leading a congregation. “I consider it a very special privilege.” 

And perhaps also a calling rooted in faith, service, and deep connection to the community he now shepherds.