Launch Day at the Titanic Quarter
On Sunday 15th November Bishop Harold introduced Rev Chris Bennett into the newly created Titanic Parish. Because there is no church building, the short service took place in The Pump House Cafe at Titanic Dock after a guided walk from the Odyssey Complex. Watch the video below for a flavour of the event.
The parish has been created at the request of the Bishop who is keen that the church has a presence in the Quarter right from the start. It stretches from the Odyssey to the far end of Queen's Island with the Lagan as a boundary on one side and the Sydenham Bypass on the other.
Chris' title will be ‘Chaplain to the Titanic Quarter', which effectively means that, for now, he is Chaplain to a business district. Workplace chaplaincies are not without precedence and the diocese has taken inspiration from several sources including a church in the heart of London's Canary Wharf which serves both residents and workers in the area.
It's anticipated that the Titanic Quarter will eventually be populated, not only with businesses and their employees but with residents, students, tourists and local visitors out to enjoy the cafes and restaurants.
At the moment, however, Chris' church is hard to define. He doesn't have a building, he doesn't have a team, he doesn't have parishioners, he doesn't have a programme of meetings and much of the Quarter exists only on architects' plans. That, however, doesn't daunt him, and he is ready to "jump in with both feet". "What excites me the most," says Chris, "is that this is a ‘blank page', a fresh start for the church and I really want it to look like something brand new."
Prior to taking on this challenge, Chris (or 'Chrisby' as he is affectionately known) was curate in Holywood Parish for six and a half years and in Larne for the three years before that. Renowned for his approachability and creativity, Chrisby will be sorely missed, but his former boss, Rev Roger Elks of Holywood, is in no doubt that he is the right man for the job.
"He is exceptionally gifted for this mission; able to work in ill-defined situations and live on opportunism, creativity and the guidance of the Holy Spirit," comments Roger. "He is easy to like, inspirational to follow and engaging to listen to. He has influenced and enriched the lives of many in Holywood from all generations."
Chrisby will be charting his journey in a blog on The Dock website. Click here.
Launch - Day One from The DOCK Church on Vimeo.