16 March 2023
Refugee engagement and resettlement is a key ministry across the Diocese of Chelmsford. Many of our parishes and worshipping communities work with local authorities and organisations to help resettle refugees and to support people who have been forced to leave their country of origin and seek asylum in the UK.
Churches within our Epping Forest and Ongar deanery have been responding to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers housed locally.
There are Iranian Christians housed in the area, so the churches have supplied Farsi Bibles and Farsi translations of service sheets to welcome those coming to church services.
The Revd Jaimée Summers, Team Curate at St John’s Epping, who is leading the churches response in the deanery, explains more about the work they have been doing to welcome refugees and asylum seekers:
Last Christmas, we worked with organisations like Voluntary Action Epping Forest and Care 4 Calais to deliver 90 sacks of presents and warm clothes to those who were housed in two hotels locally. We also organised a Christmas trip to a local farm and play area. We have helped families with paperwork to secure school places and now most children have places. We are also exploring options for offering free English lessons for the adults and providing help with transport.”
More information
Find out more about Refugee Ministry in Chelmsford Diocese visit our Refugee Engagement webpage.
