The Felixstowe Methodist Churches have, for many years, supported the chaplaincy at the Port of Felixstowe, led by our Minister. This ministry covers the, more than, 2500 staff who work directly for Hutchison Ports UK, the owners of the Port of Felixstowe. Working closely with the Port’s Occupational Health Department, the local Minister can come alongside staff to help them, when circumstances arise. Historically, the Minister has spent one day a week on the Port, visiting the various staff and working locations: offices, workshops, mess rooms etc. These visits provide an opportunity to informally meet the staff and to become a familiar face on the Port, emphasising the support available if, and when, required. This contact has, in the past, led to weddings, baptisms and funerals being held at our Methodist Churches. The nature and scope of the Chaplaincy has changed over time with, for example, the introduction of more stringent security regulations and the ever-increasing size of the port.
About the Port of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s biggest and busiest container port, and one of the largest in Europe.
The port handles more than 4million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and welcomes approximately 2,000 ships each year, including the largest container vessels afloat today – crucially, the port provides some of the deepest water close to the open sea of any European port. Around 17 shipping lines operate from Felixstowe, offering 33 services to and from over 700 ports around the world.