Cathedral to host festival celebrating chaplains

Rev Alan Robson is an Agricultural Chaplain

The work of Lincolnshire's chaplains will be celebrated during a weekend of events at Lincoln Cathedral.

They serve in a wide range of organisations such as schools, prisons, the NHS, the RAF and farming communities.

One of the organisers, the Reverend Alan Robson, said chaplains "always seem to run under the radar".

Mr Robson said the work of chaplains could have a huge impact on people in the places where they work.

"I've stopped people dying by suicide. I know I've done that. That's important. Somebody's alive today and having a happy future."

Mr Robson has been the county's agricultural chaplain for 25 years and said stresses were worse than ever for farmers, with diseases, flooding and government policies adding to the burden.

The Reverend Julie Doddrell is a GP chaplain

Mr Robson said he believed chaplaincy was the fastest-growing area of ministry, unlike the traditional church.

The Reverend Julie Doddrell works as a GP chaplain in Boston. Patients can make appointments to see her at the surgery.

She said: "Often it's bereavement. Anxiety is another big thing, loneliness and not really knowing where to turn when life gets difficult.

"Sometimes people will tell you 'that really helped', often they look different when they walk out. They may say they feel lighter and have had a burden lifted."

The Reverend Ian Brown is chaplain at RAF Coningsby and helped to establish the festival

The Reverend Ian Brown, a Chaplain at RAF Coningsby, has helped to organise the Festival of Chaplaincy.

He said the event was a landmark: "We believe this is the first to take place in the country."

Mr Brown would like to see other counties follow Lincolnshire's lead.

The Festival of Chaplaincy is due to take place on the weekend of 21 March to 23 March.

There will be free entry to Lincoln Cathedral on 22 March and visitors will be able to meet chaplains and charities such as Lincolnshire Rural Support Network.

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