Ecumenical seminar on Gypsies and Travellers

A day for church leaders, members of congregations, those with pastoral responsibility or with an interest in Gypsies and Travellers takes place in Bury St Edmunds on 26 March.

Jointly organised by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich & the Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers (CNGT), there will be presentations on culture, the local context, and community safety. Speakers will include the County Council, Police, Gypsies and Travellers and those working alongside them. Theological input and examples provided of churches working together with Gypsies and Travellers. Part of the seminar will be to examine actions that local churches might undertake.

Speakers will include: Fr Joe Browne from the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain; Rev Roger Redding Anglican Chaplain to Gypsies, Travellers and Showmen in the South West; Rev Martin Burrell; Anglican Minister of Christchurch, Bushmead, Luton; Revd Peter Thomas, Baptist Minister, and The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich; Gloria Buckley, Shirley Barrett and Sonny Gibbard from Traveller and Gypsy organisations, as well as academics, and representatives from the police and county councils.

The seminar is on Friday 26 March from 10am-4pm at Friends Meeting House, St John’s St, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SJ
For further details- please email Alice Nicholls at the Diocesan Office, as soon as possible alice@stedmundsbury.anglican.org or ring on 01473 298551. Bookings need to be received by 16 March.