Annual Report 2010
What has been happening in Essex and East London for the Chaplains who work in the workplace?
With 18 'core' chaplains in Essex and East London, supported by some 30 volunteer chaplains both Lay and ordained, I am pleased to say that workplace Chaplaincy works well. Until recently, we were known as ECCIC, or the Essex Churches Council for Industry and Commerce, but on March 6th 2010 at the Anglican Diocesan Synod we launched ourselves as 'Workplace Chaplaincy, Essex and East London (WPC)'. 'It does what it says on the tin' said the Bishop of Bradwell, our President. We are also pleased to have a good supportive Board, as well as Martin Webster, the Archdeacon, as our Principal Officer. We are an ecumenical Team of Chaplains and are very grateful to 'Churches Together in Essex and East London' (CTEEL) for their continued support.
The Team in 2010
Robert Findlay is very new into the job of being Chaplain in HARLOW and is enjoying meeting new people. He led the Civic Service and invited people from all aspects of the community to be part of it. The Chair of the Council declared that the service symbolised the fact that those involved in Commerce, Council, Churches and Charities were all working together to make Harlow a better place. The closure of Glaxosmithkline has had a huge effect upon the individual employees and the town, and his steep learning curve as a Chaplain has begun.
Colin Phillips reports that there are now 8 chaplains working with the LAKESIDE Team, 6 at Lakeside in the shopping centre, 1 in Corringham as town centre chaplain and 1 in the local Asda supermarket. They all take part in the annual celebrations of Christmas and Easter at the centre providing a spiritual import both on the Malls and in the Lakeside Chapel. This year, as in other years, they have been able to take students on the Diocesan Pastoral Assistants Training course for their placements.
Tony Cant says that Chaplaincy in WALTHAMSTOW is very new, and, consequently, feels very slow but there are some signs that God is in it. There is also the reality that Walthamstow is an incredibly multicultural and religiously diverse place, with many businesses being owned, operated and staffed by those of other faiths. The work all started from a conversation with the Mall General Manager and also with the Sergeant of the local Safer Neighbourhood Team. There are also plans afoot for Chaplaincy in the Met' Police, an area that chaplains are getting increasingly involved in throughout our area.
Shaun Moore at the CROWN COURT at SNARESBROOK finds that there is a good balance between work with the permanent staff and the court users, of whom there are hundreds each day with 20 courts sitting. The Chapel which seats 400 is used 4 days a week and he feels that it is an honour to be accepted and to be providing a ministry where they are having the privilege of listening to individual stories and being allowed to pray for them and their loved ones as well. There are also well attended services at Christmas and Remembrance.
Carol Richards not far away in STRATFORD reports that she has had another busy year as regeneration is still very much on the agenda in East London. In Stratford everything is gearing up for the opening of the new Westfield Shopping Centre in 2011.
Just a little further away Kelvin Woolmer working as hard hat Chaplain on THE OLYMPIC SITE says that due to the demands on the Chaplaincy he now runs a team of 6 assistant Chaplains to deal with the increasing number of people who seek them out for support. They listen to their life problems while helping them develop ways to deal with their situations. He has been actively involved in helping workers deal with mental health issues, bullying in the workplace, proposed ethnic arranged marriages and much more. The Chaplains deal with all faiths and those with no faith, showing the love of Christ and sometimes using words.
Over in another part of our area, in PURFLEET, it is reported by Andy Hudson that the Royal Opera House has moved into the community. This has happened because they have been forced out of London due to the Olympic Park development. There are some exciting plans for their new site and he is pleased to say that he has been working with them on a number of projects in the area, engaging them with the local community, particularly with the younger people of Purfleet. Another highlight of his year has been the opportunity of working with a number of agencies including the Veolia Trust and the Thames Gateway on a project to build a new bridge which has led into a number of performance, art and design opportunities particularly for the school and Youth Centre involvement.
In CHELMSFORD, under the leadership of Carol Smith, voluntary chaplains continue to serve in the Royal Mail Depots at Boreham and Victoria Road, in Chelmsford at the Bus Station, the Industrial Units on Duke's Park Estate, the Asda supermarket at High Chelmer and in the Essex County Council Offices at County Hall, and, at the invitation of Her Majesty's Court Services, she has fortnightly Chaplaincy sessions at Chelmsford Crown Court. Despite small signs of economic recovery, the recession has taken its toll on the workforce in all areas. The takeover of National by First Buses meant that drivers had to reapply for their jobs. Increasing mechanisation has meant more redundancies in the Royal Mail, and the restructuring programme in County Hall has resulted in whole departments being downsized and moved and the outsourcing of some services has resulted in other departments being closed down.
Alison Finch who heads up a team of chaplains in COLCHESTER says that they are still working hard, visiting people and giving pastoral support in the workplaces. Shops are still finding that people haven't the money to spend and many are still living in fear of redundancy or a cut in their hours. She continues her work with the police and has been focussing on the challenges that 'diversity' brings, trying to work with multi-faith issues. The Street Pastor scheme in liaison with the Police and Council is also moving to communities outside Colchester. In the world of construction work, the companies are doing better financially this year and there is a feeling that the worst of the recession is over and they are even looking to take on more staff. Theatre Chaplaincy and organising a stand at Wedding Fairs are other areas Alison gets involved in as Colchester chaplain.
Coming out of 'retirement once again' David Dickens has been looking after the Chaplaincy at BRAINTREE where the Sainsbury's Town Centre Store as well as the Town Centre and the retail sector based in Freeport is looked after by Chaplains. He has taken on Chaplaincy responsibility for looking after Braintree District Council Offices and, reflecting upon the whole local scene, says that debt, redundancy and a general sense of insecurity looms large among the concerns expressed with the Chaplaincy.
Back across the county in EPPING there have, during the year, been changes to the volunteer team but Gay Ellis is pleased to report that it is developing and strengthening in Epping, Waltham Abbey and Loughton. The volunteers in Epping are now holding a Christian Aid Lunch in the District Offices as well as their regular visits and carol services. The multi-faith forum is also working well. Gay will be retiring in October but knows that she will be leaving the area in the care of a good volunteer team.
From Judi Schultz who works in LONDON RIVERSIDE we have the comments 'change, change, change, another year of change'. Every time she visits there are new people to meet and, just as she has learnt their names and a bit about them, they have gone - moved on. Her prayer is that in the 'encounters' that she has had, no matter how brief, God's love for them as individuals has shone through her visits.
In ILFORD a new Chaplaincy has been established and Marie Segal has now been in operation for the last 18 months but the big step came in February 2010 when she was commissioned as the core Chaplain along with 4 other volunteer Chaplains. The Team is made up of an ecumenical group of Christians who try to offer a listening ear to anyone, regardless of age, gender or religion. The Chaplaincy Service is available to everyone who works or shops in Ilford Town Centre.
Tim Ball who is Chaplain for the ESSEX FIRE and RESCUE says that the Essex Fire Service speaks of 'doing more than we ever have to make Essex safer'. Just having completed a renewal of the fleet of fire appliances and having established a new headquarters at Kelvedon and a new Station at Rayleigh Weir, the Service is not without its internal discussions and debates. But as a result of that process it continues to be a dynamic and dedicated organisation working for the common good.
Finally, I Chris Bishop have to report that, as always, work at STANSTED AIRPORT is 'up in the air', as there is the ongoing uncertainty about airport ownership and the need or otherwise for an additional runway and, as this is written, we approach a General Election. Added to this there always seem to be so many job changes and moves. Two positives as far as the Chaplaincy is concerned is the fact that I have now been joined by an assistant Chaplain and have also been asked to write a regular column in an electronic 'AIRPORT TALK' newspaper.
Chris Bishop W.P.C. Team Leader & Chaplain at Stansted Airport