From the Revd Andrew Thomas
Sir, - I was the cleric studying the race card at Royal Ascot on
21 June in your photo (News, 28 June).
I should like to take this opportunity to say that, as a member
of the Ascot Racecourse Chaplaincy Service, I was working. "Yeah,
right!" I hear you say.
After Royal Ascot's move to York in 2006, while the new
grandstand was being built, the Ascot authorities saw the success
of a chaplaincy service that had been set up at York racecourse,
and wanted to replicate it at home. After they contacted the
surrounding parishes, a chaplaincy was begun, at Royal Ascot week
to begin with, and now at all Ascot meetings throughout the
year.
With the support of the national horse-racing chaplain, the Revd
Graham Locking, and Sports Chaplaincy UK, chaplaincy is becoming
established and successful at Ascot. There are plans for
establishing it at Windsor, and other areas of sport
nationally.
This is a great area of ministry, which is growing fast. I thank
you for the opportunity, through my picture, to show that the
Kingdom of God is growing in places where we might not immediately
recognise it.
ANDREW THOMAS
Assistant Curate of the Cookhams
3 The Parish Centre
Churchgate, Cookham
Berkshire SL6 9SN