The Bolton Town Centre Chaplaincy consists of one Stipendiary Chaplain and five Associate Chaplains. The Associate Chaplains are all volunteers, each with some training and experience in Pastoral Care and listening skills. The work is supported by Greater Manchester Industrial Mission (GMIM) who employ the Stipendiary Chaplain, administer his salary and provide financial, insurance and administrative support. The current Stipendiary Chaplain is an ordained minister in the Church of England – and a part-time sales assistant with a major retailer.
The stated aim of the Chaplaincy is:
“To provide pastoral care to those who work in the Bolton Town Centre Economy.”
The main focus of our work is in the retail sector, with the balance of our efforts being approximately 70% retail and 30% other sectors. Although all of the existing chaplains are drawn from Christian churches, our work is non-discriminatory. Chaplaincy services are available to anyone, of any faith, or to those who have lost (or never held) a faith of their own. Chaplaincy is free of charge, confidential, impartial and inclusive.
Much of our work involves marriage, relationship, family and parenting issues. Without breaking any confidences, we can offer the following as a brief list of some of the real-life issues in which the Chaplaincy has been involved....
Lack of customers and fear of redundancy (a common problem)
Staffing levels (common)
Birth of first grandchild
Alcoholism in a member of staff
The arrest of a colleague for theft
Closing a retail unit
Opening a retail unit
Problems with teenage children
Looking after older parents.
The death of a mother
The death of a child
Teenager looking after mother with terminal cancer.
Suicide
Redundancy
The Town Centre Chaplaincy has links to the University and College Chaplains, the Royal Bolton Hospital and Bolton Hospice. We are also part of Christians Together in Bolton Town Centre, linking us to the work of the Salvation Army, the YMCA and the Society of Friends (Quakers).
Our partnership with Bolton Christian Community Cohesion gives us access to the leaders of churches of all denominations, across the Borough.
Our close working relationship with Bolton Interfaith Council links us, through Bolton Council of Mosques, to the leadership of the 24 mosques in the Borough, and our work alongside Bolton Hindu Forum, to the four Hindu Temples in Bolton.
We are also members of the Bolton Business Partnership and value the close ties we have with Bolton Council and with those who work in the Public Sector.