Port Chaplain given recognition

 

2007: Peter Paine has been Great Yarmouth Port Chaplain for around six years, the ministry made possible by a partnership between Good Work (N&WIM), the Mission to Seafarers and the Great Yarmouth Port Authority.

Each of these organisations have part funded the post which allows Peter to serve on the Good Work Team and spend half his time serving seafarers and their families in the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

 

Peter first got his sea legs as an active seafarer himself (in the air force) when he helped crew air sea rescue vessels and train people in sea rescue.

This work brought Peter to Great Yarmouth and when the work dried up he stayed on and now does a ministry which, at its heart, keeps Peter well connected with his love of the sea. 

Peter said: “I love the sea and I have a real concern for seafarers who are often away from home and family for many weeks and often months. Being a seafarer can be a very lonely job at times and when you are always on the move it is not easy to get help and support when you need it. Problems can play on your mind when you are away from home and a seafarer is never in one place for long these days.

"But because I am part of a world-wide network of chaplains I can do the best I can to help and support seafarers when they are in Great Yarmouth and then call a chaplain in their next port of call so that they can take up the caring role. When a seafarer has problems they need to know that they are not forgotten. That’s what the welfare and spiritual care of seafarers is all about.”

 

Now, after Peter has successfully completed his studies with the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA), his ministry has been formally recognised and Peter has been ordained into the role. Peter became the Rev Peter Paine in June at a service in the Great Yarmouth Town Hall Assembly Rooms.

 

Councillor Paul Garrod (Mayor of the Borough) welcomed everyone to the very special event and praised the work done by the Chaplaincy. Chris Warner (Leader of the Good Work Team) led people through the service in which Rev Richard Lewis (EBA Regional Minister to the Northern Sector) ordained Peter, and Ian Bunce (Head of the Mission Department of the Baptist Union) delivered a message which both recognised the contribution Peter has already made and charged him to further commitment in his ministry.

 

Others taking part in the service, and pictured, included Rev J Cruickshank (Corps Chaplain to the Sea Cadets) and Rev Canon Ken Peters (Mission to Seafarers).

 

 

Peter is also chaplain to the local Sea Cadets and the young people turned out in numbers to support him and assist with stewarding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a great deal Peter continues to offer to the Port of Great Yarmouth and it is our great hope that the new Port Company that has been set up to build and run the new outer harbour will maintain the partnership previously offered by the Port Authority in order that the Chaplaincy can go from strength to strength.

 

Please pray that the funding will be maintained as we move into a new situation in 2008.

 

You can support this ministry.

 

Call Barry Capon - Chair of the Good Work Board, ring 01603 451507 or email barrycapon@hotmail.co.uk  

This is a valuable ministry and we desperately want to keep supporting seafarers and their families.

 

Donations, made out to Norfolk & Waveney Industrial mission should be sent to:

 

Barry Capon

Chair Good Work (Norfolk & Waveney Industrial Mission)

Trinity United Reformed Church

1b Unthank Road

Norwich

NR2 2PA