It was early in 2003 that IBEX began to work with the city centre parish in Southampton on the idea of a chaplaincy to the WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton city centre. There was already contact, but it took a great deal of time before a model could be put in place which both parties would be happy with.

IBEX provided networking opportunities, getting in touch with people who were doing retail chaplaincy in comparable circumstances elsewhere in the country, in many cases with many years experience, thus providing the opportunity to learn from what happened elsewhere. The city centre parish provided the chaplain – Belinda Searle-Barnes, the vicar of St Mary’s, - who did all the “front-line” work.

Belinda left the area in August 2004, and David Wrighton is taking up the reins at least to hold the fort.

There are also enormously exciting possibilities being explored at the moment of a chaplaincy team in the City Centre, remembering that there is more to the retail life of the city than WestQuay.

Created: 2004-11-09 13:47:33
Modified: 2004-12-01 19:07:28