Some photos from our 20th Anniversary celebrations and the AGM

We had a great evening in celebration and thanksgiving for twenty years of the Town Centre Chaplaincy in Watford. This was followed by our Annual General Meeting looking back to 2022 and with an update from our Lead Chaplain, Geert, looking forward to all that is to come! Watford’s elected Mayor, Peter Taylor, and Watford’s MP, Dean Russell, were both present for the evening, for which we offer our grateful thanks for their support of the Chaplaincy.

Just before the service started in Holy Rood Church.

The Revd Neville Dyckhoff, WTCC Trustee and Permanent Deacon at Holy Rood, kicked off the evening!

The Revd Tony Rindl, Chair of Trustees for WTCC and Vicar of St Mary’s Watford, preached during the service.

Lesley Inwards and Cynthy Davies, both Street Angels, spoke about volunteering for the Chaplaincy.

Our 20th anniversary cake!

A display board of some of the people and events from the last tweny years.

Just prior the the AGM.

20th Anniversary Celebrations

You are invited to jin us tomorrow evening for our celebrations - please RSVP to office@watfordtcc.org

Street Angel shifts

Volunteers met on Zoom recently and Street Angels agreed they would try to provide more shifts in the town centre. Going forward they will meet on a Saturday one week then a Friday the following, continuing in that vein whenever possible. All shifts will begin at 8.00pm and end in the early hours and volunteers can join in early or later as they have the time to suit them. Geert, the Lead Chaplain, says this will create deeper relationships with stores, clubs and visitors. It will also allow those volunteers who are involved in worship in their churches on a Sunday morning to either do an early shift on a Saturday or a later one on a Friday. Please pray for Geert and the Street Angels as they begin this new shift pattern.

Street Angels out in the town

On Saturday 10th June, a Street Angel team was out in the town centre from 8.00 to 11.00pm. They had a good evening and Geert Tap, the Lead Chaplain said “Love showering His town with prayers and blessings”.

Thank you to the team!

New Lead Chaplain

We are delighted to tell you that we have a new Lead Chaplain. Geert Tap was appointed by the Trustees in April so has been in post and familiarising himself with the post for a couple of weeks now.

Advertising for a new Lead Chaplain

Today the advertising begins for a new Lead Chaplain to replace David Scourfield who recently announced his resignation.

Please see the ‘Jobs’ page for details of the post and how to apply. Applications need to be made by Friday 3rd March 2023.

Lead Chaplain announces his resignation

David Scourfield, who has been Lead Chaplain for almost two years, has recently announced his resignation. He has been training as an ordinand with the Church of England and in July this year will be ordained in St Albans Cathedral and take up a post as curate at All Saints Church in Leavesden.

This is really good news for David but not for the Chaplaincy. David has been an effective and hardworking Lead Chaplain during his time in the Chaplaincy, leading the teams of Chaplains and Street Angels and making contact with a variety of stakeholders within the town centre.

There will be time for thanks and good-byes when David leaves at the end of March.

Remembrance Day Parade

David Scourfield, Lead Chaplain, took part in the Remembrance Day Parade through Watford town centre on Sunday 13th November walking from St Mary’s Church to the Peace Memorial by the Town Hall. He joined many local dignitaries, members of the armed services, uniformed organisations, groups and clubs, along with many Watford residents. David laid a wreath on behalf of the Chaplaincy.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

WTCC wreath laid by Lead Chaplain, David Scourfield

The WTCC wreath was one of many laid by numerous organisations.

The Remembrance Day Parade walking down the High Street

(photo - Watford Council Facebook page)

Large donation received with grateful thanks

David Scourfield, Lead Chaplain, was delighted to receive a substantial donation of £30,000 from Leavesden Road Baptist Church (LRBC), following his meetings with the minister, Maureen Hider, last summer/autumn 2021. This follows the sale of the LRBC Manse in Bushey Mill Crescent in early April 2022.

The Treasurer from LRBC wrote to the Chaplaincy:

“Leavesden Road Baptist Church first opened for worship in 1896. Our work in this place over 125 years was brought to completion in 2021. Our fellowship shared a last worship service together on Christmas Day 2021. Our formal closure is planned for the end of April 2022.

As part of our decision-making arising from our closure, we determined to leave a lasting legacy through the distribution of such funds, as are available to us, to those charities we have supported over the years.

In that light, on behalf of the fellowship of Leavesden Road Baptist Church, I enclose a cheque made payable to your charity (Watford Town Centre Chaplaincy) for £30,000.

We pray that these funds will assist you in all your Good Works.”

Obviously the Chaplaincy was very sorry that the Church had to close but as you can imagine this money will greatly help the continuing work of the Chaplaincy within the town centre of Watford.

The Chaplaincy is extremely grateful to LRBC for this donation.

Donation received

David Scourfield, Lead Chaplain, was very pleased, earlier this month, to receive a cheque for £750 towards the work of the Street Angels from the Halsey Hall Lodge. The Chaplaincy is always very grateful when receiving one-off donations, as well as regular donations, towards the work of the Street Angels and Chaplains supporting those who socialise, work or live in the town centre.

Covid-19 Remembrance Service

David Scourfield, Lead Chaplain, attended a Covid-19 Remembrance Service organised at the Stanborough Peace Garden on Sunday 22nd May 2022. It was attended by local MP, Dean Russell, and Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor. People from different faiths, ages, backgrounds took part.

New pattern of working for Street Angels

The High Street environment at night has steadily changed over the past 5 years. Even allowing for Covid, the night-time economy has changed, with more of an emphasis on the restaurant trade rather than bars/pubs and clubs. While the latter continue to operate, the numbers of users of these premises has undoubtedly fallen. In addition, the younger generation are slightly less inclined towards binge drinking (and drinking full stop).

The Street Angel Saturday rota has therefore moved to an earlier pattern of operating, from 8.00 to 11.00pm, although the later night shift (10.00pm to 3.00am) will still operate at least once a month and on special days eg New Year’s Eve and A-Level results night. In addition to patrolling the High Street, as has been the case, Street Angels will be encouraged to enter bars and pubs (with the managers’ consent) to ‘mill about’ and talk to customers when the opportunity arises.

David Scourfield, Lead Chaplain, says: “The new pattern of working will bring the Street Angels team further into synch with the way daytime chaplains operate. If chaplaincy is about bringing ‘comfort, compassion and Christ’ to those we meet in the Town Centre, the new emphasis for Street Angels will be the same as that for chaplains i.e., focusing on ‘compassion’ by coming along side those on the High Street or in pubs and bars through conversation rather than the provision of ‘comfort’ normally associated with sorting out and looking after those who have drunk too much.”

Supporting the Watford Christmas Lights Switch On

Some of our Street Angels and Chaplains will be out in Watford Town Centre tomorrow afternoon, Saturday 13th November between 4.00 and 6.00pm, supporting the Big Switch On of the Christmas Lights. If you are out too please give them a wave!

Annual General Meeting

You are invited to our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 21st October 2021 at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Watford. We will look back at 2020 but also look forward to the future with our Lead Chaplain, David Scourfield. Why not join us to find out more about plans for the future?

Street Angels and A-Level Results night

Street Angels and A-Level Results night

This was brought forward this year to Tuesday 10th August 2021 as part of the revisions to A-Level and GCSE results this year following the Covid-19 disruptions. 
 

 We had a small team of four street angels (pictured outside Pryzm nightclub) on the High Street from 9pm until approx. 3.15am the following morning working with the police, door staff and an on-site paramedic to look after those that were 'tired and emotional' (or 'waved' as they now say!). With the club full to capacity (1900) we were constantly busy dealing with those directly needing our help, shadowing young women as they walked alone to Ubers and taxi’s some distance away or calming the testosterone (and drink) filled young guys anxious to display their boxing talent.
 

A-Level results night is typically the second busiest night on shift (after New Year’s Eve) ,but also the best night by far as we can play a small part in this milestone day in the lives of these young people. However, just talking to some of those out and about revealed the level of anxiety among young adults about their futures and about the effect of Covid-19 on their future patterns of teaching at Uni. I don't envy them at this point in time.

The team were involved in the region of 20 'interventions' of one sort or another across the evening/morning (and not just with young people) and it was great to once again be of service to Watford and its wider community

WTCC and the Street Angels Team have received some positive publicity today in connection with this via the Watford Observer online

'Street angels' back out supporting Watford's night scene | Watford Observer

New Lead Chaplain

David Scourfield, our new Lead Chaplain, started work with us on 1st July. He has already spent time in town chatting with shoppers and will be getting to know shop keepers and business leaders over the coming weeks.

Last night he met with our volunteer Chaplains and Street Angels via Zoom to offer his thoughts about the way forward for the Chaplaincy over the coming weeks and months.

Keep an eye out for him if you are in town (he has a jacket with the word ‘Chaplain’ on his back) and have a chat with him to find out more.

Small Charities Week

It's the end of Small Charities Week, which seeks to improve the knowledge, representation and sustainability of small charities.

We are a small charity and very grateful to all who there for us, and without whom we couldn't support those who work, shop or socialise in the centre of Watford.

We are especially grateful to our volunteer Chaplains and Street Angels, our Trustees and those who support us financially and through prayer, both churches and individuals.

New Lead Chaplain announcement

The Trustees are very pleased to announce that David Scourfield will be the new Lead Chaplain starting at the beginning of July.

David introduces himself:

It is a privilege to be able to introduce myself as the next ‘Lead Chaplain’ for Watford Town Centre Chaplaincy, having been involved with the Chaplaincy for the best part of the last 11 years. I am looking forward to both renewing the many friendships I made with volunteers and supporters during this time and also to meeting all those that are currently involved in Chaplaincy/Street Angel work.

My professional career of 32 years has been as a Chartered Town Planner (somebody has to do it!) working in local government, the last 20 years as a senior manager. In fact my career started with Watford Council’s Planning team and then saw me move into a corporate regeneration team that coordinated community involvement in the central ward and town centre. So, once again I will find myself working with and alongside those in Watford’s Town Centre. How life comes full circle.

I am not actually a Watford lad. I was born and bred in Paddington and to this day my wife, Juliet, notices that I get ‘twitchy’ if I don’t regularly get into central London! My Roman Catholic upbringing sort of lapsed in my later teen years but I never lost a faith in God. I married Juliet (an early years teacher) 23 years ago at Leavesden Road Baptist church and was blessed with three wonderful children, who are now young adults. My son Toby (28) is a sales manager and with his wife Laura have given us three gorgeous Grandchildren – Niamh (11), Darcey (8) and Beau (4). My daughters Verity (22) and Orlagh (21) moved out of the family home last autumn and share a flat in Hendon so I guess that makes us ‘empty nesters’ but ones that are nevertheless content with life. Verity is a Registered Paediatric nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Orlagh is in the first year of a teach training degree. I should also say there are two dogs in the wider family and that, for some reason, my daughters think it appropriate to call me ‘Grand Doggy Dave’ whenever these four legged creatures are present!

To say I am looking forward to taking on the responsibility of Lead Chaplain is an understatement. It comes at another big change in my life. Back in March this year, in the space of 24 hours not only did I accept Tony’s offer of the Lead Chaplain position but I also found out that I had been approved by Bishop Alan for part time training as an ordinand in the Church of England, with ordination in May 2023, God willing. God’s timing never ceases to amaze me. At 55 I start the next phase of my life, this time well and truly focused on God and Kingdom work.

For those that know me, I am very much about ‘church without walls’ and bringing Jesus to people wherever they are found in need: the cafes and pubs, the nightclubs, our shops and the Atria centre, the High Street, bus stops and doorways. And of course our Churches. I join Watford Town Centre Chaplaincy to help Lead the organisation forward but in doing so will focus my time on energy on serving: it’s staff and volunteers, it’s Trustees and partners, the community of Watford, and most importantly to me, Jesus.

As Lead Chaplain I offer a prayer based on Aaron’s blessing

May the Lord make his face shine upon all those working with and for the Chaplaincy and may the Lord turn his face towards all of those living, working and visiting Watford, so to give us all his peace.

David