Town and city centre chaplains are there for anyone who needs support, whether in a shop or business, bus station or court.
Chaplains are trained to work alongside people and help them cope with whatever challenges they are facing in their lives. They provide a confidential, non judgemental listening ear and can also signpost people to other organisations that can help with issues such as domestic abuse, bereavement, mental health or debt.
The Basingstoke town chaplaincy was established around 15 years ago. There are 14 chaplains who are all volunteers plus a part time staff member in the office. They are drawn from churches of all denominations across the town.
Chair of Trustees and co-ordinator John Hayward said, “The idea is we’re not evangelising, we’re giving pastoral care, which means going out and engaging with people where they are, wanting to talk about whatever they want to talk about. It’s showing God’s love and care to other people.”
The team of trained chaplains walk round the town centre, and in their uniform, provide a visible and approachable presence to anyone in need of help. They will chat to people of any faith or none.
They visit shops, the bus station and drivers’ canteen, the taxi ranks and the Discovery Centre. At the magistrates court, they talk to staff, those called to appear in court, as well as witnesses and families.
The visits can open up deep conversations as sometimes people find it easier to talk to someone outside of their friends or family. They’ve talked about issues such as working relationships, hours and pay or family and health concerns.
Trisha Williamson supports shop workers. “It’s such a privilege to come and see people in the shops and be a listening ear,” she said. “I hear all sorts of troubles and joys. We have opportunities to pray for them and signpost at times and if an opportunity comes along, I can talk about why I’m doing it and about my faith too.”
One of her regular visits is to Jamie, the store manager of Build a Bear. He said, “The chaplains are lovely to speak to and very supportive and help ease your issues, whether at work or personal. They listen and don’t judge and it’s good to have someone who is not in the business. They’ve prayed for me in the past and I know the help is ongoing.”
Pam Holton has been a chaplain for around 14 years and visits the town centre and the courts. She said, “It’s coming alongside people going through quite difficult times. People are very receptive, and we have been able to pray for people and give them tracts and even little wooden crosses.
“A lot of the cases at the magistrates court are for drink driving and they could lose their licence, lose their job, lose their home. It was touch and go with a young lad, who was a driver for a gardening company. He lost his licence and he thought he was going to lose his job and his flat. I prayed for him, and he got in touch afterwards and said he still had his job. I just said, ‘thank you, Lord’. It was amazing.”
The chaplaincy is funded by donations from a number of churches and individual giving, along with occasional grants. They have an office in the heart of the town centre in Festival Place.
Walking through the town, the volunteer chaplains are warmly greeted by those around them and it’s clear strong relationships have been established over the years.
Sam Hardy who works at Haven Memorials also appreciates the visits from Pam. “The chaplains are friendly and warm and do a brilliant job. It’s nice to feel cared for and they help you feel part of the community. It can be quite lonely if you are working alone and Pam is a ray of sunshine.”
The team are looking for more volunteer chaplains to come and join them and to be able to extend their work into offices within the town.
John continues, “If you like chatting to people and if you’re prepared to listen and empathise with them, it’s a fascinating thing to do. It’s interesting, it’s godly and it’s rewarding. It changes people’s lives and improves the atmosphere of the community and it’s a way of reaching out to people who wouldn’t otherwise come to church and don’t have contact with other Christians. You introduce Christ to a new set of people and that is so important. There are opportunities in all sorts of places and there’s no real hostility. People might disagree with what we believe, but they appreciate what we do.”
That is clear from a plaque at the bus station which remembers one volunteer who visited regularly even beyond the age of 90 years old. His time and care were so appreciated that staff wanted to recognise and remember him.
In Winchester, city centre chaplains visit shops, offices and the bus station on a regular basis. There’s a team of 18, of which 17 are trained volunteers.
At Winchester Crown Court, they also provide pastoral support to those in the court system including victims, witnesses, defendants and court staff. They also offer a befriending service in the Winchester library once a week.
The Winchester chaplaincy service is overseen by a management group, made up of representatives from six city centre churches.
The city centre chaplaincy has recently opened a listening service and once a month holds a meditation session, offering people a calm space in which to meet God. It’s open to those with a faith and those without. Both events are held at St Lawrence’s Church which is the centre of the city. The church often attracts visitors, some come to take photos or find peace away from the bustle of the city centre.
The listening service began earlier this year and takes place twice a month. People have asked to chat about a range of problems from relationships, jobs or family situations, others are experiencing mental health problems or bereavement.
Lead chaplain Alison Dolphin said, “I think it’s important because there is a pandemic of mental health and people need somebody to talk to. They need somebody who is safe and who is good at listening. We don’t perhaps need to say anything, just to listen, to accept and to keep it confidential. We’re not a counselling service and we can signpost people to where they can get more help and support but for some people, it might be the first step in unburdening themselves.
“Chaplaincy is an expression of God’s love and often that might be in practical ways and building trust and being there, but sometimes time, presence and prayer is what people need as well.”
The listening service offers a safe space for adults to come and talk. It’s run by a team of experienced DBS listeners who offer one to one conversations. Some people turn up as they know about the service but others come into the church, having seen the board outside and are curious.
One elderly man came in asking for a pen to write up a prescription and ended up sharing his problems. He also came back again two weeks later.
Alison added, “We are there for people of all faiths and none. We don’t talk about Christianity unless they ask us to. If they engage, then we respond and talk about out our faith and the hope within us. We are there for pastoral, psychological and spiritual support. People have a need for hope, meaning, purpose, connectiveness in life and we are there to help.”
The meditation session takes place on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It lasts for an hour, but people can stay as long as they like. After the introduction, there is a relaxation exercise and a short reading of a Gospel story taken from the ‘Taketime’ charity. That is followed by 20 minutes of sharing called ‘wondering together’ and a time of meditation, inviting people to share with Jesus what is on their heart and mind, to listen and enjoy the stillness and peace.
Alison continued, “It’s good to bring our wonderings together. There are no right or wrong answers and everyone’s contribution is valued. Sometimes people have a profound moment, other times they say they have never felt so peaceful.
“This is aimed at those on the edge of church or others who have had the knocks and bumps of life and are just wondering if there’s something else and are curious. It’s the most overt Christian thing we do but we never tell anyone what to think. It’s a low-key non threatening opportunity for people who are on a spiritual search to experience God in a mindful way.” Town centre chaplaincies across the area have now begun meeting together to share thoughts, ideas and to pray and encourage one another.
