NEWS

Thandar Tun 4/2/26 Thandar Tun 4/2/26

Emerging Funeral Practice and Implications for Ministry

Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain, Tuesday, Apr 21, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Examining contemporary developments in funeral practice and their significance for Christian Ministry. Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners in the field of death, ritual and bereavement studies, this conference will provide both historical context and critical analysis of emerging trends. Click here for more information and register your place here.

A link to the conference will be sent by email approximately 24 hours before the scheduled start time. If you require further information, contact us at jlgevents@outlook.com

Thandar Tun 4/2/26 Thandar Tun 4/2/26

Chaplaincy Roadshow 2026

The Free Church Group partnered with the Chaplaincy's Road Show Tour, and we invited the organisers to give us a report.

Over a coffee, Warren Evans (CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK) and I imagined how we could showcase Chaplaincy Ministry to the local church. We approached around 20 organisations, who quickly bought into the idea. The Roadshow aimed to inform, inspire and encourage greater involvement, and empower pastors and church members to capture a renewed vision for chaplaincy.

A further motivation to organise the Roadshows was the frequent requests we receive from Prisons. Hospitals, the military, and so on, are requesting more Chaplains. For me, it is somewhat strange and counterintuitive that Chaplaincy still holds currency in the UK. Why would a Premier League FC appoint a chaplain? A further indicator is the expansion of Colleges and Universities offering Chaplain-Training. Chaplaincy is in its ascendancy. How long will this door stay open?

Chaplaincy is increasingly recognised as a vital, post-secular ministry in the UK, shifting from a niche, institutional role (hospitals, military, prisons) to a public-facing, "incarnational" ministry in workplaces, shopping centres, leisure and sports venues. It is considered crucial because it meets people where they are—outside traditional church walls—offering spiritual care in an era characterised by both rapid secularisation and a persistent search for meaning. As traditional church attendance declines, chaplaincy serves as a "bridging" ministry, bringing a spiritual presence into communities. It operates as "the church without walls," where 95% of the people encountered do not regularly attend church.

Here are some results;

200+ people attended the three roadshows
The buzz and energy in the room were amazing
Partner organisations were very positive, and new contacts were made!
The national advertising alone underscored chaplaincy to the Church
London and Birmingham have requested follow-up events!
Cardiff and Newcastle have asked for a Roadshow
When we showcase stories of encounter and community engagement, people are impacted and want to get involved
We saw the power of partnership as different agencies and churches stood together

I lead my denomination’s Chaplaincy Dept; along with many networks and streams, we are convinced that Chaplaincy offers amazing opportunities to share Christ’s Love with those with little or no meaningful connection to a Christian community.

A Very Modern Ministry: Chaplaincy in the UK – Ben Ryan (2015)

At a time when UK society seems increasingly dominated by secular habits and assumptions, and when religious attendance and affiliation seem to be in decline, there are more and more stories of chaplaincy spreading into new settings. No longer – if indeed it was ever the case – are chaplains limited to Anglican clergy in a few institutional settings. Today chaplains are everywhere.

Chaplaincy ministry has its roots in ancient history. Religious men and women often accompanied armies into battle as priests. Chaplains provided encouragement and compassionate care to people who were constantly in crisis. Chaplains sailed with Sir Francis Drake in the sixteenth century and fought with Washington during the Revolutionary War. They have prayed through human suffering, have been encouraged in despair, and have walked alongside humanity at every stage.

Today, chaplains are found in many (perhaps every) settings—healthcare, policing, business, industry, universities, and sport; in fact, placement is limited only by the lack of imagination.

The word chaplain originates in fourth-century France. A traditional story relates the compassion of St. Martin of Tours. One cold and wet night, he was so moved by compassion for a beggar that he shared his cloak. Upon his death, his cape (capella in Latin) was preserved as a holy relic and kept in a shrine that came to be known as chapele, from which the English word chapel is derived. The guardian of the chapel became known as the chaplain.

The phrase “an open door – an effectual open door” is taken from 1 Cor 16:9. The Apostle Paul is ministering in Ephesus. He says that in the face of all the challenges and opposition, there is an incredible ‘Open Door’ of effective mission that has opened to him. The metaphor is clear despite the hardships God has opened doors for effective engagement with society. We are convinced that chaplaincy is God’s gift, God’s open door to the UK Church.

As with any promotional event, we look to the cumulative effect, and pray that in local settings, as pastors and chaplains tell their story at national, regional and local events and as chaplaincy is affirmed, we will see increasing numbers of pastors and church partners called into this vital ministry.

Like the ministry of Jesus, chaplaincy is about being present in specific, sometimes messy sectors of society to provide support. We call this incarnational presence. In summary, chaplaincy in the UK acts as a proactive, adaptable ministry that bridges the gap between faith and society, offering vital human connection to people and communities wherever they are.

We love and honour the pastors and the local church, most of us recognise the pull to ‘inhouse’ ministry, that is we end up giving our best hours and resources to our church-community. Conversely, chaplaincy intentionally focuses 95% of our time and effort outside the local church. Someone said, “Get out on the limb, that’s where the fruit is”.

Does your church community have an active involvement in chaplaincy ministry? We can help you get started.

For Information contact: -

Nigel Tween. Nigel.Tween@outlook.com Director: Elim Chaplaincy Association.

Warren Evans. warren.evans@sportschaplaincy.org.uk CEO: Sports Chaplaincy UK

Thandar Tun 2/18/26 Thandar Tun 2/18/26

Investing Together - Online Launch, 23rd March 26, 1 pm

Having spent a year consulting and co-creating this charter, we are excited to invite you to the online launch of this initiative…

Monday 23rd March, 1 pm on Zoom

Sign up here.

Please join us, and spread the word to invite any individuals, churches, partner orgs etc…everyone who is passionate about sharing the Gospel with children and youth is very welcome to join us! We are calling the UK church to invest together in the faith of children and young people, informed by research and equipped and empowered by all of the resources, tools and training collectively pooled by CYP organisations. We can reach more children and young people when we invest together.

From Gemma Madle & Hannah Bowden (Youthscape), Sarah Lane-Cawte (Free Churches Group) and Sarah Holmes (CYM)

Thandar Tun 1/3/26 Thandar Tun 1/3/26

New Year Greetings from the Moderator of the Free Churches Group

Happy New Year!

New Year Greetings in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

As we celebrate the final week of the Christmas season and approach Epiphany, may we recognise that we are summoned to be courageous followers of Christ in the midst of life’s uncertainty. Isaiah 60:1 tells us: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of God rises upon you”. The Magi journeyed with courage through uncertainty, guided by a light that drew them beyond comfort into discovery, reverence, and transformation (Matthew 2:1–12). Epiphany carries that same invitation for us.

This season opens a space for deep reflection: the kind of inner work where faith, honesty, healing, and courage meet. God shapes the heart quietly over time, yet the journey of faith always moves toward embodied living. The light of Christ does more than warm us; it forms us. It calls us to live with intention, to carry Christ’s compassion into public life, to mirror Christ’s grace in how we speak, act, lead, and serve.

Each of us carries a distinct story, a distinct calling, a distinct responsibility within community. Our lives will not unfold in uniform ways. The Spirit shapes unique actions, unique gifts, unique witness. Yet all of it serves God’s purpose among us: faith that honours truth, love that heals, justice that lifts, mercy that restores, hope that steadies communities and souls.

So as Epiphany unfolds, may this year become one of reflectiveness that leads to courageous living. May we recognise the light Christ brings to our lives and allow that light to guide our choices, align our commitments, and deepen our discipleship. May we live as people who reveal something of God’s presence through who we are and how we act.

“And all of us…seeing the glory of God as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed” (2 Corinthians 3:18). May this transformation move gently through our hearts and boldly through our lives.

Wishing us all God’s grace, courage, and blessings for the journey ahead,

Sincerely yours,

Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson

Thandar Tun 8/20/25 Thandar Tun 8/20/25

Adolescence: a free webinar for churches, 16th Sept 2025, 16:30 - 18:00