The church honoured Martin of Tours on his Saint’s Day last week. This 4th century Roman soldier cut his cloak in half for a destitute beggar he met on the streets of Amiens. That cloak [capella, Lat.] became the symbol for almsgiving and, curiously, gave rise to the label ‘chaplain’ and even to the name of the place where they worked – chapels.
Methodists continue his tradition in several ways. Our communities meet in chapels, up and down the country. Even the Primitive Methodists of the 19th century, expelled from mainstream Methodism for preaching in the open air, built hundreds of chapels in their early years.
Contemporary Methodism uses chaplaincy as a model (among others) for its Mission in Britain. Rev Robert Jones, Chaplaincies Coordinator at Church House, inspired us today with his vision of outreach into our multi-faith society. The church equips and funds chaplains to work in schools, hospitals, prisons, workplaces and even casinos! Lay and ordained, they listen to and care for people, and transform communities. They work for people; they work for us; and they work for God.
