New chaplains for railway industry
Several new chaplains – including three with a Baptist background - have been appointed by the Railway Mission as it seeks to increase support to the under pressure railway industry
The industry has experienced a time of extreme difficulty with timetable changes, strikes, and passenger dissatisfaction all having a negative impact.
The Railway Mission, founded in 1881, provides pastoral support through a dedicated and professional chaplaincy service.
It has invested into the chaplaincy service to help staff through the recent industrial problems that have been faced by Train Operating Companies, Northern, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Southern Rail and South Western Railway.
Three of the new chaplains have a background in Baptist ministry. They include Levi Lee (left), who has pastored Baptist churches in Dartford, Gillingham and Crawley. Levi becomes chaplain to the Southern Rail area. John Roe (right), a former pastor of the Lawn Community Church in Swindon, will be chaplain to Paddington and the Greater Western Railway and the South West. Mike Roberts (back, centre) who has pastored Baptist churches in Yorkshire and Dorset, will cover Manchester and the Northwest.
Liam Johnston, Executive Director of Railway Mission said, ‘As a chaplaincy service, we have responded to the needs of the industry and the railway staff, by increasing as far as possible the support we provide to rail staff and British Transport Police.
‘We hope that this increased support will help alleviate some of the pressures faced by front line staff on the railway.’
Other full time appointments include Colin Fraser (East Midlands) and Andrea Smyth (North London). As well as the addition of these new full time chaplains to the chaplaincy team, Railway Mission will also increase the hours of some of the part time chaplains too.
Baptist Times, 03/09/2018