Chaplain dares to drop for charity 

Sailors’ Society chaplain faces terror of heights to take on 262ft abseil for seafarers in need

Bridgend based chaplain the Revd Phil Denyer, dared to face his fear of heights and take on Britain’s highest freefall abseil from the UK’s tallest structure in aid of Christian maritime welfare charity, Sailors’ Society.
 
Phil, an accredited Baptist minister who works part-time as a port chaplain for the global charity, took on the abseil in Queen Elizabeth Park, London on 17 June. He has raised more than £1,500 to date towards Sailors’ Society’s work supporting seafarers in need.
 
Phil said, 'I’ve been terrified of heights all of my life, but was keen to face my fear! People have always been so good at supporting us and I wanted to get involved and do something to help our cause.
 
'The abseil was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating things I have ever done. Someone told me it’s not the first 261ft you need to worry about - it’s the last foot that kills you!'
 
Phil, who supports seafarers visiting the ports of Newport, Cardiff, Port Talbot and Swansea, trained hard for his challenge and has had great support from the local community, including his home church of Gilgal Christian Fellowship. He even lost weight in order to be in prime shape for the abseil.
 
He continued, 'I’ve been training hard at the local gym and climbing wall and have had marvellous support from my family and friends and local community groups. My church is in a coastal community, so it’s been brilliant to have this support for seafarers and their families.'
 
Hundreds of visiting seafarers benefit from Phil’s help each year, ranging from providing wi-fi and giving them lifts to town when they arrive in port, to offering counselling in times of crisis.
 
There is still time to make a donation to Phil’s appeal by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/Philip-Denyer1

Sea Sunday is marked annually on the second Sunday of July and is an opportunity for churches to pray for seafarers and to highlight the ministry of the Sailors’ Society amongst this often forgotten group of people. This year's resources include an order of service, posters, collection box kit, lesson plan and cut-out boat to colour.