Chaplaincy

Julia Hicks – Chaplain

My role is to provide a Christian Chaplaincy service to the staff and residents at Bridgwater YMCA.  I am the Curate at two local Anglican churches, St Mary’s Bridgwater and Chilton Trinity, and the YMCA is part of our parish.  I make weekly visits, usually during the morning, when I spend time chatting with residents, staff and visitors. 

Sometimes these informal conversations lead to more in depth and personal questions about various aspects of life.  Over the past year, for example, I have spent quite a bit of time talking with individuals about bereavement and family relationships.  Some residents have asked me to pray with them at a particularly difficult time.

I work closely with the Housing Team, and we have set a few evening sessions where the residents are encouraged to come along and ‘debate’ a current social or ethical issue.  These have been well attended. We have also organised Christmas and Easter celebrations which have included a short act of prayer.
I also meet regularly with the Chief Executive Officer, Martin Hodgson, to discuss ways in which we can continue to develop the Christian ethos and basis of the Association’s work in this place. 

I am helping with the planning for a YMCA National service of Thanksgiving to be held in Bridgwater in 2010.