Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy: Chaplains

Chaplains

Chaplains at work on the Greenwich Peninsula

We have a team of eleven chaplains working on the Greenwich Peninsula: ten in The O2, two on the Bovis Lend Lease construction site in the Greenwich Millennium Village, one in the Syral food refinery on the western side of the Peninsula, four in ASDA in the retail park in Bugsby's Way, and now a team of three at Plumstead Police Station. In The O2 pairs of chaplains are allocated groups of restaurants, bars, etc., and there is a chaplain present at some point during the day Monday to Thursday and on Friday or Saturday evening (visiting the nightclubs).

What we do when we are on site

We are available for conversation and listening. All conversations will necessarily be brief, but we can arrange to meet up later to finish a conversation.

We are there to offer support and to ask how things are going. Often people can bring worries from home to work or the other way round which can affect their home or work life, causing stress and unhappiness.

What we don't do

No Chaplain on their own initiative will attempt to persuade anyone of the virtue or truth of the chaplains own Faith. They might employ the resources of their own Faith to respond to expressed spiritual need, and if asked for reasons for their own beliefs might respond.

Confidentiality

Anything said to a chaplain is assumed to be confidential. It will not be repeated or passed onto anyone else without an express permission to do so.

Sometimes the Site Chaplain attends meetings and will bring up subject areas that have been brought up with themselves or other chaplains working on the site. This is more likely to happen if more than one person has mentioned the same issue of concern. Names are never given to the managers or trades unions' officials, or whoever else might be in a meeting. We always depersonalize an issue so that it cannot be traced back to any individual or group of individuals.

The multi-faith nature of the chaplaincy

If you want to speak to a chaplain from a specific religion and it is not the religion of the chaplain you are talking to, please ask and it can be arranged for you. Offence will not be caused by asking for another chaplain from another Faith.

If you have a problem with a Chaplain

If the management, trade union officers or anyone else have concerns about the behaviour of a chaplain it should be raised with the Site Chaplain in the first instance. The details of the site Chaplain can be found on the notice boards. Comments can also be made to the Chair of the Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy Steering Group — who can be contacted through this website.

From 2005 to 2007 on the O2 construction site

From 2005 to 2007 a team of eight chaplains operated on the O2 construction site. A survey was conducted near to the end of that period. To see the results, click here.

The Chaplaincy Team

Mr. Nigel Anderson: Christian Nigel is a Christian and worships locally at St Alfege's where he helps keep the church open for visitors and tourists at weekends. He is a trained 'listener' and works as a special needs teacher in a Greenwich secondary school. In his spare time Nigel enjoys singing, reading and walking. (updated June 2009)
Davinder Kaur Babraa: Sikh Davinder practices her faith of Sikhism at the Ramgarhia Temple in Woolwich. She is a retired teacher and now spends most of her time with the British Thyroid Foundation running a help line, organizing meetings and supporting families. Davinder is also asked to speak about her faith to a wide range of people and organisations, including teachers, local authorities and the World Council of Churches. Davinder is a keen walker in her spare time.
Balbir Singh Bakhshi: Sikh Balbir is an ex-diplomat who has a master's degree in economics and worked as a senior civil servant in the Ministery of Defence. He is chairman of Greenwich Home Start, a trustee of GAVS, VCG and other organisations, and a committee member of UNIFEM and UNA-UK (Greenwich). He is a school governor and was a Director in Citizen's Advice Bureaux. For many years Balbir has related to the various ethnic and religious communities in the borough, and he was nominated for the Heroes Award in 2007. (updated 16/6/10)
Sheikh Ali Hassan Barakat: Muslim Ali is an Imam and Chaplain for the Oxleas NHS Trust. With a wealth of experience gained from nine years as both an Imam and as a hospital chaplain Ali has chosen to bring these skills to the workers on the Peninsula.
The Rev'd Derek Clacey: Christian Derek is Team Vicar in the Church of England Team Ministry of East Greenwich. Born in Dartford, he trained as a quantity surveyor and spent 11 years in the building industry before training for ministry. The last 30 years have taken him away from this area to serve in Nottingham, Harlow, Aylesbury and The New Forest before returning in 2004. Having returned to his roots, he finds it an exciting place to live, enjoys the buzz and diversity of urban life, and is fascinated by the closeness of the take-aways, railway station, buses, Charlton Athletic, and The O₂ Building. (updated 17/06/09)
The Rev'd Martyn Coe : Christian Martyn Coe is a Christian Minister working in Greenwich within the United Reformed and Methodist Churches. Initially a trustee of the chaplaincy, in 2005 Martyn was appointed by his regional church to work in East Greenwich and the Peninsula until 2010. Martyn has since become one of the Chaplains and has stood down as a trustee.
The Rev'd Michael Dent: Christian Michael has been involved in Workplace Chaplaincy for something in excess of twelve years, currently undertaking the visiting of a Ministry of Defence Research Establishment, as well as Construction sites in South West Kent, and on the Greenwich Peninsula. He currently serves as Co-ordinator of the London and South East Region of the Industrial Mission Association. (updated 06/05/09)
The Rev'd Cynthia Finnerty: Christian Cynthia is an Honoary Curate in the Parish of East Greenwich at St. George's Church. She has spent most of her life in this area and she is keen to see the new community develop harmoniously on the Peninsula. Cynthia is also a part time music teacher; she enjoys developing local drama projects and keeping up to date with new scinetific developments.
The Rev'd Jeremy Fraser: Christian
Dr. Vitthaldas Mahajan: Hindu
Mrs. Vidya Misra: Hindu
The Rev'd Arthur Obiora: Christian Arthur has served the Church of England Parish of St. Catherines, Hatcham. In his other working life he has been a Civil Servant, Magistrate and Industrial Engineer and was a Clerk to the Medical Tribunal. Aurthur belives wholeheartedly in the multi-faith ethos.
The Reverend Nancy Odunewu : Christian Nancy is a member of the Joint Council for Anglo — Caribbean Churches. Nancy is flexible in her worship, which she feels enhances her career as a consultant, as well as aspiring to work at an Inter-faith level. Her work in the Church has been amongst young people, as well as adults, creating projects which reflect the needs within the Community and Churches.
Deacon Jane Rice: Christian Jane is a Methodist Deacon, and so called to a ministry of service and pastoral care. She enjoys living and working in a multi-faith community and creating liturgy and rituals for worship and life. She also enjoys music from the 60' s, swimming, gardening, creative arts, and being with their first grandchild. She believes that one of the most exciting ways to be enriched is to listen to the stories and faith journies of others and to continue to discover that which deepens one's own faith perspective. Her greatest joy is to find ways to enable people to both discover and express their spirituality and their religious faith. (updated 22/12/09)
Harbhajan Singh : Sikh Harbhajan co-founded the Anglo-Asian-African-Caribbean Friendship and Cultural Association in May 1977. This was set up to bring mutual understanding and exchange of culture between diverse communities. Three years ago he co-founded the Bexley Multi-Faith Forum and is Vice Chair. Harbhajan is an experienced prison Chaplain. Harbhajan is a retired teacher, he is a currently a school governor and Chair of the Greenwich Asian Parents Forum. He also acts as the Public Relations Officer for the Council of Gurdwaras, South East
The Reverend Malcolm Torry : Christian Malcolm Torry has served the Church of England parish of East Greenwich, and particularly the congregation of St. George's Westcombe Park, for thirteen years. He and his wife Rebecca have now moved into the Greenwich Millennium Village on the Greenwich Peninsula, and most Sunday mornings he is now to be found at the parish's new congregation meeting in the school hall in the Greenwich Millennium Village, Holy Trinity, Greenwich Peninsula. He has been a parish priest and industrial chaplain for nearly thirty years. As well as being Co-ordinating Chaplain on the Peninsula, he is chaplain to the Syral food refinery on the western side of the Peninsula. He has been Co-ordinating Chaplain since 2003, and is responsible to the Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy Steering Group for the work of the chaplains. (updated 06/05/09)
The Rev'd Stephanie Warner: Christian Stephanie worked and taught in the fashion industry for many years. She has been a volunteer advocate and adviser with Greenwich Housing Right, a volunteer chaplain at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Greenwich, and a Reader in the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Eltham. She is now honorary Curate in the Parish of St. Andrew with St. Alban, Mottingham, and a chaplain with the Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy. (updated 10/03/10)
Phra Kru Lom: Buddhist: Associate Chaplain

Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy