Community chaplaincies focus on particular communities of people who are connected by an experience, background, identity or particular space (eg people who live or are from a particular area, ex-offenders, homeless people, housing estates, young people).
Pioneer chaplaincies are projects which explore and develop chaplaincy in new places and in new ways.
Videos featuring Community and Pioneer Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy on a large estate
This initiative is based in Parson Cross, North Sheffield. The estate itself is very large and actually comprises a number of smaller communities, at the time it was built 1930’s – 40’s it was the “largest social housing development in Europe”. In recent years it has suffered a similar fate to many other social housing areas – with a lack of real investment, loss of local employment and opportunities.
“The chaplaincy” is part of the response from Sheffield Methodists and local churches (aka: Parson Cross Initiative – PXI) to the new developments around the new District Centre, a regeneration development which includes a new ASDA, a new multi agency “LearningZone” with library, local neighbourhood housing office, and various community and training rooms.
The chaplaincy itself has a number of elements. At the centre of it all, the chaplaincy team made up from a mix of ordained and lay people, paid and volunteers, who are available to offer emotional and spiritual support for people working in and/or using the district centre.
The chaplaincy service is open to all without discrimination, and forms a part of the ongoing work of PXI – Parson Cross.
Nick Waterfield (community chaplain)
Resettling ex-offenders
Mark’s story is typical of someone’s release from prison.
We tried to get Mark housed. Temporary housing, then a promised flat – he lost the flat as he did not have enough deposit. Mark’s family made it plain – no contact. Terrified of homelessness he accepted the offer of a room from an ‘ex offender’ he needed to avoid.
After four months his ‘friend’s’ probation officer found him a small room in a new area. He rang me with the good news – but ‘shopping’ he said, ‘was the only time he had a conversation’. Mark was isolated.
He started job-seeking, hard when you’re not permitted a computer. Working with church safeguarding we fixed up a new church, someone with whom he could have an occasional coffee. The GP fixed up counselling sessions.
Mark is determined to look to the future and not to reoffend.
Allison Waterhouse (resettlement chaplain)
For more information check out our Chaplaincy Resources and Links and Chaplaincy Reading pages.
Check out these Chaplaincy Blog posts too:
Street Angels
A city centre shaped for mission
Always on the move - care along the waterways
A broad approach to chaplaincy
Making a place of welcome in Brighton and Hove
These pages may also be helpful:
HIV Chaplaincy
These external links may also be of interest:
LGBTI+ chaplaincy is launched in Oxford
The Methodist Church is not responsible for any third party content linked to from this website.
You will find contact details on our Chaplaincy Contacts page.