Beverley Baptist Church

Community chaplaincy bears fruit in Yorkshire.

A church in an East Yorkshire town is doing sterling work through a community chaplain funded by a £12,000 grant from Baptist Insurance.

A Beverley Baptist Church which finally found its own ‘dot on the map’ three years ago is doing sterling work through a community chaplain.

Tracy Green had been working in a voluntary capacity, but with our help she has been able to extend her hours dramatically.

It’s been a tremendous success, tying in with the church’s developing role in its community, according to church leader Stephen Newton.

‘For years we rented rooms in local schools for our Sunday services,’ said Stephen. ‘But when a local club, The Armstrong Centre, TAC, closed down in 2020, we took a long term lease on it.

‘Suddenly, we had a permanent location – a dot on the map, we like to call it. That meant we could develop our outreach and the range of facilities and services we offer local people.

‘A key part of that was expanding Tracy’s role as our community chaplain. She’s an experienced nurse, who worked for years in end-of-life care in hospices, and above all she’s a wonderful, caring listener.

‘With an aging demographic, she has been there to help and support families through the loss of loved ones, and through the general life struggles that we all face.

‘She visits retirement homes to support the elderly there, and has supported a newly commissioned Anna Chaplain in that work, she leads prayer groups, and she has played a major part in initiatives such as Warm Spaces, and our monthly “Seniors” group – which includes a meal and provides NHS advice, a technology table, light exercise, space to talk, and an option to join a reflective session and communion.

‘She’s also involved in “Senior Screen”, a film afternoon for retired folk at our local cinema, where she’s on hand as a listening ear and a follower of Christ.

‘Her pastoral and spiritual guidance, delivered in groups and individually, is really bearing fruit, with people having honest conversations about Jesus or returning to following Him and joining our church community. She’s a beacon of light, and we’re very grateful to Baptist Insurance for making this possible.’

We’re so pleased to have been able to support Tracy and the rest of the team at Beverley Baptist Church. They’re positive proof that many people are hungry for guidance to find their way to faith, while others who may not yet be ready still value the very real love and support offered by groups like this.

Anne Bishop, Chair of the BIC Grants Committee

The committee has given over £2 million in grants over the past ten years to Baptist outreach and evangelism.

Learn more about the Baptist Grants Programme.

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