31 July 2024
The Revd Becca Rogers, Associate Priest at Victoria Docks Ascension Church has been Chaplain to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people since October 2022. Becca writes about her chaplaincy role and the support she provides:
Working as a chaplain with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people has been a huge learning curve for me. I had worked with many marginalised groups previously, but had not had much experience with travelling people before.
I visit sites, enjoy long conversations over cups of tea and offer pastoral and spiritual support. I also love learning about this ancient culture, which has been in our country for over 600 years, and yet, which our modern-day society has little room for. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people suffer the worst health, education and well-being outcomes of any racial group in this country.
They are the most likely people to experience hate crime and to keep their identities hidden for fear of discrimination. Getting to know them personally has opened my eyes not only to a new culture, but also to how many barriers they face just for who they are.
In visiting sites I have found a real openness to God, faith and spirituality. Never before have I had so many prayer requests in one visit! I’ve also been asked whether I am the ‘first female Catholic priest’ because, particularly Irish Travellers, are much more used to male priests. Visits are never boring, and I always come away challenged and having learned something new.
Over the next couple of years we are running a project to encourage churches to have more engagement with the Travellers in their parishes and vice versa. The funding is for Greater London, so if you are based there and interested, do get in touch - beccarogers1982@gmail.com.
This is a resilient people group, with so much to bring and teach us, and also a group in need of support and help. I’m excited to see what God will do.
