Chaplaincy News

Ch.. ch.. changes…

A number of major developments have happened in the business world of Nottingham recently. Perhaps the most significant has been the merger between Boots and Alliance Unichem to form Alliance Boots. The commitment to Nottingham of the new company can be seen in £70 million investment in Distribution Centres at the Beeston site. There will however be job losses around the country as smaller DC’s are closed over the next few years. The Chaplaincy is seeking to offer support to these people via the new e-chaplaincy service. The newly employed e-chaplaincy development worker will start their part-time post in September; and an early project will be offering support to Boots staff facing redundancy as a result of the merger.

Another major announcement over the summer has been from Northern Foods, the parent company to Pork Farms Bowyers. The chilled division, which includes Pork Farms, is going to be put up for sale. This has caused mixed reactions amongst the staff – both understandable anxiety, but also some positive feelings about a new owner putting new investment into the factory. The planned development of the Broadmarsh Centre will soon be gathering momentum and the first signs of the work should be the building of a new bus station and car park near the tram line. The Chaplaincy is talking to Westfields about establishing a multifaith prayer room in the redeveloped centre.

Raising standards! (and money!)

The East Midlands Ambulance Service have placed their standard in St Peter’s. It will ‘live’ here, but will be used for ceremonial occasions, funerals etc for the service. A Service of Thanksgiving for the work of EMAS will take place in St Peters on November 9th. This will also acknowledge the newly expanded Service to include Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. In due course a plaque will be placed in church, on the wall below the standard. This is another example of St Peter’s being identified with the world of work in the city and beyond.

The Worker’s Memorial Window is another part of our developing ministry to the world of work. We are delighted that Julian Cole the artist is now working on engraving the glass and this significant memorial to those who have died or been injured at work will be a magnificent addition to St Peter’s. The Appeal has raised approximately £10,000 so far but another £15,000 is needed. Unfortunately the Arts Council did not award a grant for the project. If anyone would like to make a donation please send it to St Peter’s Centre – cheques should be made payable to our partners in this project UNISON East Midlands. An auction will be held on Heritage Open Day on 9th September and proceeds will go to the window fund. Items for auction include two beautiful engraved pieces by Julian Cole.

Other News

A group of Christians working in the city centre are launching Business Alpha Nottingham on 15th September. Meetings will be at lunchtime in the Council House. Leaflets are available in church and the office if you would like to know more. If you would like to take along a friend or colleague or would like to offer support to the organisers please contact www.businessalphanottingham.org A module in Workplace Ministry will be start at St Peter’s from late September. This is one of the ministry specialisms on the Diocesan Certificate in Lay Ministry. This year we will also be working with Derby and Leicester Dioceses to help train lay chaplains for workplace ministry.


http://www.stpetersnottingham.org/chaplaincy/news.html
© St Peter's Church, Nottingham
Last revised 2nd September 2006