Mission to Seafarers
Encyclopedia
The Mission to Seafarers (formerly, The Missions to Seamen) is an international not-for-profit charity serving sailor sailors in over 230 ports around the world. It is supported entirely by donations from the public, whose generosity has funded its work for more than a century and a half. Its formal creation was in 1856 through the Church of England
although the Mission had its roots in the earlier work of an Anglican priest, John Ashley
who in 1835 was on the shore at Clevedon
with his son who asked him how the people on Flat Holm
could go to church. For the next three months Ashley voluntarily ministered to the population of the island. From there he recognised the needs of the seafarers on the four hundred sailing vessels in the Bristol Channel
and created the Bristol Channel Mission. He raised funds and in 1839 a specially designed mission cutter was built with a main cabin which could be converted into a chapel for 100 people.
In later years a purpose built 75 foot floating Mission was operated on the Thames and was named John Ashley in recognition of the founder. It had a large recreation area below decks which included library and cinema facilities, a chapel, and accommodation for a crew of four,Padre,Skipper,engineer, and deck boy. This vessel replaced and ex Admiralty MFV of the same name. The creation of this floating mission was the brain child of the Reverend Fred Leight, who devoted a great part of his life to the service of seamen and was awarded the MBE in recognition. This vessel served the many colliers which at that time often had to spend long periods stuck on buoys awaiting a berth. She also served a useful purpose during the seamen's strike in the 1960s when she ventured out into the estuary to assist vessels held at anchor there waiting the strike to end. On another occasion John Ashley made a fund raising showing the flag trip to Harwich, arriving in the teeth of a westerly gale. Other notable trips were one to take the then Minister of transport to see what the Thames really looked like, a party of London Bishops enjoyed a voyage along their waterside parishes, and on one occasion a stranded Trinity House pilot was rescued off a ship at Charlton Buoys, who it so happened was the brother of the then Skipper. On his retirement this vessel was for some reason replaced with a 36 foot motor yacht which soon became known as Padres private yacht, and indeed did not last long as there was little use for such a service on the Thames by then. John Ashley had two main berths on the river. The western one was alongside the Alexander tug pier at Wapping and the eastern one was in the old lock entrance at Tilbury. The latter berth was where she usually took aboard those coffins or ashes of those wishing to be buried at sea, an alternative being the Gravesend Pier opposite.
Celebrities who have supported the Mission to Seafarers' work or performed readings at its popular Christmas carol services at include historian Dan Snow
, actor Julian Glover
, Patricia Routledge
, Oscar winner and former shipping minister Glenda Jackson
, sailors Tracy Edwards
and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, bestselling author Jeffrey Archer, maritime photographer Baron Greenway
, painter Rolf Harris
, writer and journalist Libby Purves
,and frontline reporter Kate Adie
.
Today's Mission to Seafarers operates all around the world, serving the global workforce of seafarers, many of whom come from the poorest, developing nations. The Mission provides seafarers' centres, ship visits, emergency assistance, family liaison, and often support and counselling for the survivors of ordeals like shipwreck or hostage-taking by pirates.
The organisation adopted a flying angel as its symbol in 1858 and it is an image now recognised by mariners all around the world. Many crews know the Mission to Seafarers' centres as 'Flying Angel Clubs'. The name change to Mission to Seafarers occurred in 2000, reflecting the growing number of women going to sea as part of professional crews.
The Patron is HM Elizabeth II and the President is HRH The Princess Royal
. The Mission's Secretary General, Revd Tom Heffer, is the Archbishop of Canterbury
's official Spokesman on Maritime Affairs. The organisation's international headquarters are in the church of St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, Lo London
EC4 2RL. This church, founded by Sir Richard Whittington
, the Dick Whittington of popular legend, was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, and contains carvings by Grinling Gibbons
. The famous Whittington Window by John Hayward
can be seen in the church, where Dick Whittington was buried in the nave. In the 1960s, the embalmed body of a mediaeval cat was disinterred from where it was buried under the bell tower. Many believe that this was the actual body of "Dick Whittington's Cat" and a picture of the animal's body is held at the Mission to Seafarers.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
although the Mission had its roots in the earlier work of an Anglican priest, John Ashley
John Ashley (clergyman)
The Reverend Doctor John Ashley was an Anglican priest.In 1835 he was on the shore at Clevedon with his son who asked him how the people on Flat Holm could go to church. For the next three months Ashley voluntarily ministered to the population of the island...
who in 1835 was on the shore at Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
with his son who asked him how the people on Flat Holm
Flat Holm
Flat Holm is a limestone island lying in the Bristol Channel approximately from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan, but in the City and County of Cardiff. It includes the most southerly point of Wales....
could go to church. For the next three months Ashley voluntarily ministered to the population of the island. From there he recognised the needs of the seafarers on the four hundred sailing vessels in the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and created the Bristol Channel Mission. He raised funds and in 1839 a specially designed mission cutter was built with a main cabin which could be converted into a chapel for 100 people.
In later years a purpose built 75 foot floating Mission was operated on the Thames and was named John Ashley in recognition of the founder. It had a large recreation area below decks which included library and cinema facilities, a chapel, and accommodation for a crew of four,Padre,Skipper,engineer, and deck boy. This vessel replaced and ex Admiralty MFV of the same name. The creation of this floating mission was the brain child of the Reverend Fred Leight, who devoted a great part of his life to the service of seamen and was awarded the MBE in recognition. This vessel served the many colliers which at that time often had to spend long periods stuck on buoys awaiting a berth. She also served a useful purpose during the seamen's strike in the 1960s when she ventured out into the estuary to assist vessels held at anchor there waiting the strike to end. On another occasion John Ashley made a fund raising showing the flag trip to Harwich, arriving in the teeth of a westerly gale. Other notable trips were one to take the then Minister of transport to see what the Thames really looked like, a party of London Bishops enjoyed a voyage along their waterside parishes, and on one occasion a stranded Trinity House pilot was rescued off a ship at Charlton Buoys, who it so happened was the brother of the then Skipper. On his retirement this vessel was for some reason replaced with a 36 foot motor yacht which soon became known as Padres private yacht, and indeed did not last long as there was little use for such a service on the Thames by then. John Ashley had two main berths on the river. The western one was alongside the Alexander tug pier at Wapping and the eastern one was in the old lock entrance at Tilbury. The latter berth was where she usually took aboard those coffins or ashes of those wishing to be buried at sea, an alternative being the Gravesend Pier opposite.
Celebrities who have supported the Mission to Seafarers' work or performed readings at its popular Christmas carol services at include historian Dan Snow
Dan Snow
Daniel Robert Snow is an English television presenter. He has presented and appeared in many popular history-related programmes for the BBC and is the "History Hunter" for The One Show.-Early life and background:...
, actor Julian Glover
Julian Glover
Julian Wyatt Glover is a British actor best known for such roles as General Maximilian Veers in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the Bond villain Aristotle Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only, and Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.-Personal life:Glover was born in...
, Patricia Routledge
Patricia Routledge
Katherine Patricia Routledge, CBE is an English character comedy actress and singer. She is best known for her role as character Hyacinth Bucket in the British television series Keeping Up Appearances and Hetty Wainthropp in the British television series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates...
, Oscar winner and former shipping minister Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson
Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...
, sailors Tracy Edwards
Tracy Edwards
Tracy Edwards MBE is a British sailor. In 1989 she skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, becoming the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy and was awarded the Order of the British Empire.-Bibliography:Maiden. Simon & Schuster, 13...
and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, bestselling author Jeffrey Archer, maritime photographer Baron Greenway
Baron Greenway
Baron Greenway, of Stanbridge Earls in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1927 for Sir Charles Greenway, 1st Baronet, one of the founders of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. He had already been created a Baronet, of Wenhaston in the County of...
, painter Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
, writer and journalist Libby Purves
Libby Purves
Libby Purves OBE is a British radio presenter, journalist and author. A diplomat's daughter, she was educated at convent schools in Israel, Bangkok, South Africa and France, and then Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells.Purves won a scholarship to St Anne's College, Oxford, where she...
,and frontline reporter Kate Adie
Kate Adie
Kathryn "Kate" Adie , OBE , is a British journalist. Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News, during which time she became well known for reporting from war zones around the world...
.
Today's Mission to Seafarers operates all around the world, serving the global workforce of seafarers, many of whom come from the poorest, developing nations. The Mission provides seafarers' centres, ship visits, emergency assistance, family liaison, and often support and counselling for the survivors of ordeals like shipwreck or hostage-taking by pirates.
The organisation adopted a flying angel as its symbol in 1858 and it is an image now recognised by mariners all around the world. Many crews know the Mission to Seafarers' centres as 'Flying Angel Clubs'. The name change to Mission to Seafarers occurred in 2000, reflecting the growing number of women going to sea as part of professional crews.
The Patron is HM Elizabeth II and the President is HRH The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. The Mission's Secretary General, Revd Tom Heffer, is the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
's official Spokesman on Maritime Affairs. The organisation's international headquarters are in the church of St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, Lo London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
EC4 2RL. This church, founded by Sir Richard Whittington
Richard Whittington
Sir Richard Whittington was a medieval merchant and politician, and the real-life inspiration for the pantomime character Dick Whittington. Sir Richard Whittington was four times Lord Mayor of London, a Member of Parliament and a sheriff of London...
, the Dick Whittington of popular legend, was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, and contains carvings by Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons was an English sculptor and wood carver known for his work in England, including St Paul's Cathedral, Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court Palace. He was born and educated in Holland where his father was a merchant...
. The famous Whittington Window by John Hayward
John Hayward
Sir John Hayward , English historian, was born at or near Felixstowe, Suffolk, where he was educated, and afterwards proceeded to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he took the degrees of B.A., M.A. and LL.D....
can be seen in the church, where Dick Whittington was buried in the nave. In the 1960s, the embalmed body of a mediaeval cat was disinterred from where it was buried under the bell tower. Many believe that this was the actual body of "Dick Whittington's Cat" and a picture of the animal's body is held at the Mission to Seafarers.
See also
- The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen
- The Marine SocietyThe Marine SocietyThe Marine Society was the world's first seafarers’ charity. In 1756, at the beginning of the Seven Years' War against France, Austria, Russia, Sweden and Saxony Britain urgently needed to recruit men for the navy...
- Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New JerseySeamen's Church Institute of New York and New JerseyThe Seamen's Church Institute of New York & New Jersey, founded in 1834 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, serves mariners through education, pastoral care, and legal advocacy. With a budget of over $7 million dollars, SCI is the largest, most comprehensive mariners’ agency in North America...
(Episcopal Seafarers' Advocacy founded in 1834) - Centres for SeafarersCentres for SeafarersCentres for Seafarers is an ecumenical collaboration between The Apostleship of the Sea, The Sailors Society and The Mission to Seafarers. It is a registered UK charity formed in 2006....