Airport Chaplaincy gets a lift from Bishop’s visit
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Bishop Christopher on a tour of Luton’s terminal meets up with passenger services assistant, Kerri |
Walking through the terminal at Luton Airport with the Revd Michael Banfield, the full time chaplain, and Barbara McIntosh, the Anglican Chaplain, is a social event as they chat with colleagues working in the shops, cafés and customer support services. They have their work cut out with over 10, 000 airport colleagues and over 9 million passengers passing through each year.
Michael leads a team of six chaplains that also includes Malcolm Roberts (URC), Linda Banfield (Baptist), Captain Brian Griffin (Salvation Army) and Gerald Hale (Baptist). They are members of the ecumenical organisation, Workplace Ministry in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and The International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains (IACAC).
During his visit to Luton Airport the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, paid tribute to Michael Banfield saying that his work “comes from a loving heart”. Michael, a life long aviation enthusiast has recently been appointed senior Vice President of IACAC and is helping to develop airport chaplaincy abroad including at Prague Airport. “It helps,” he says, “that a new route to Prague has recently opened from Luton so I do not have to travel to Stanstead anymore!”
In addition to visiting and supporting the various elements of the airport community and holding services at the Airport Chapel, the Chaplaincy Team provide special support in the event of a major incident or aircraft accident. They can call on a wider team of 28 chaplains who would provide a listening ear, support and counselling to affected people. The Chaplaincy team is fully integrated into the airports emergency plan, receives regular training and for two airlines is part of a team who would fly out to emergency situations happening on other parts of the world.
It is clear that the Airport supports the ministry of the Chaplaincy Team from the highest level with Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Judge, attending services at the Chapel on a regular basis and in his spare time working on the board of Workplace Ministry in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
The Chaplaincy team is currently recruiting new Chaplains. To have an informal chat with Michael about what the job entails and the training offered call him on 01582 395516.
