Celebrating chaplaincy in Lincolnshire

Organised by the Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy and the Lincolnshire Methodist District, over 3,000 people attended the festival with discussions about faith and aimed to raise awareness and inform the visitors about the amazing work that chaplaincies carry out every day within communities throughout the UK.
“Chaplaincy is one of the fastest areas of ministry growth. People might not want to become clergy or deacons, but many want to be chaplains to connect with people where they're at,” says Revd Canon Alan Robson, Rural Chaplain in the Lincolnshire District and one of the organisers of the Festival of Chaplaincy.

People came from across Lincolnshire and beyond to talk with the many chaplains from all denominations attending the event. More than twenty stands displayed the richness of chaplaincy locally and beyond. From a Zen chaplain at the University of Lincoln to GP surgery chaplains, they were all keen to share their passion for chaplaincy. “Chaplaincy is about being where people are,” says Revd Ian Brown, Senior Chaplain at RAF Coningsby. Also present were QVSR, the Queen Victoria Seafarers Rest, and the Capela Caravan Chaplaincy, both with Methodist roots!
The Chaplaincy Dinner in the Cathedral on Friday evening was attended by 500 people including Guest speaker Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, MC John Inverdale, and music by the Ensemble of the Band of RAF College. The evening, including an auction, raised around £50,000 for three charities: Lincolnshire Methodist District’s Community Healthcare Chaplaincy, the Lincolnshire Rural and Agricultural Chaplaincy, and Lincoln Cathedral.