Sailors' Society celebrates 189 years of ministering to seafarers

The newly branded Sailors' Society held a moving and thought-provoking service at St Columba's Church of Scotland in London recently to mark the 189th anniversary of the charity.

The Sailors' Society ministers to seafarers - the "often forgotten group of people" according to General Secretary Robert Adams - to help replace feelings of isolation with a sense of belonging in a worldwide family of seafarers.

The service was conducted by Principal Chaplain of the Society, Rev David Potterton, with input from the London Nautical Choir, Chairman of the Sailors' Society Ross Sinclair and a guitar performance from Russian Port Chaplain Nikolay Motrenko.

The congregation was visibly moved on hearing the interviews conducted by Premier Christian Radio presenter John Pantry with visiting Port Chaplains, Marc Schippers from Antwerp, David Combe from the Humber, Southampton-based Frans Sahepaty and Nikolay Motrenko from Russia.

This was an opportunity for supporters to hear first-hand of the experiences of the society in action through its port chaplains.

Nikolay Motrenko, based in the southern Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, spoke of his mission to "show seafarers they are not alone" and how he "tries to take away the feeling of [being] alone on Earth to a feeling of warmth from Heaven".

Motrenko was also asked to share some of the experiences of his work in Russia, he explained: "One of the most moving stories I can tell you was when a foreign ship hit a pipeline and the whole crew was arrested. I visited them and was distressed to see them in really awful conditions."

He continued: "The captain himself was very worried about his wife in Sierra Leone who was pregnant at the time. She had not heard from her husband in weeks and didn't know if he was dead or alive."

The outcome was a positive one though, as help from Motrenko and the Sailors' Society ensured the crew were able to make contact with their families, for which, despite their surroundings, was the only thing they wished.

Motrenko added: "To them it was the most precious thing, it did not matter that we were from different religions and cultures, I will never forget their appreciation."

Jan Webber, Director of Fundraising & Marketing for the Sailors' Society, was pleased with the service and commented: "This was the society's opportunity to thank all our volunteers and staff for the hard work and commitment they show.

"It's true to say it was a very moving and thought-provoking service, but at the same time was an enjoyable occasion and we look forward to the 190th anniversary service next year."

The society rebranded from the British and International Sailors' Society to simply the Sailors' Society on 1 December to give the organisation a "truly global" identity.

The rebranding coincided with a change in focus in the work of the Sailors' Society to the provision of local welfare services in ports worldwide, concentrating particularly on growth in South America and South East Asia.