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Diocese

Southwark Cathedral welcomes a large and increasing number of people every day. Some are tourists visiting a fascinating historic building. Some are worshippers coming either for private prayer or to take part in a service. Some are people who come looking for support, comfort or advice in varying degrees of personal need. To meet the diverse expectations and needs of these people, the Cathedral offers a variety of resources; Guides, Stewards, Welcomers and Day Chaplains. All of them play an important part in the Cathedral's ministry, and although pastoral sensitivity is required by all these people, the offering of pastoral ministry is chiefly the responsibility of the Day Chaplains.

Day Chaplains might be active or retired Readers, they may be Southwark Pastoral Auxiliaries, or come from various other walks of life. But all of them are people who bring to the Cathedral pastoral skills which equip them to minister appropriately to people who may need a listening ear, who may need someone to pray with or for them, who may be asking for practical help, and who may be displaying signs of mental illness, or drug or alcohol abuse.

To help distinguish them, Day Chaplains wear a black cassock, a Cathedral badge around their neck and a name badge. They conduct brief hourly prayers from one of the lecterns and are invited to read the Epistle or first lesson at the lunchtime Eucharist. However top priority is always given to being available for pastoral ministry during their period of duty, even if this means missing hourly prayers or the lunchtime service.

Most Day Chaplains undertake one duty per month, arriving in time to say prayers at 10.30 a.m. and leave after prayers at 4.30 p.m. They are normally to be found at the West end of the Cathedral, but moving quietly around the church from time to time increases their 'visibility' and is a good way of greeting and talking to people. It is in such conversations that Day Chaplains can often find the opportunity for the exercise of our pastoral ministry.

Day Chaplains respect the different roles of Guides, Stewards and Welcomers and work in close co-operation with them. Day Chaplains are appointed after an initial interview with the Day Chaplains Administrator, and they would undertake their first duties in tandem with another experienced day chaplain. They are given induction training, health and safety and other training available to all Cathedral volunteers. Day Chaplains are requested to attend a four-monthly meeting at the Cathedral when issues arising from their work are discussed and ongoing training and support are available.

For further information please contact our Day Chaplains' Administrator,
Neill Leary
e-mail: neill.leary1@btinternet.com

To apply: please complete and return our application form (83KB Word document).

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