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The Railway Mission is a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 mission

Mission (Christian)

Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...

 devoted to the rail

Rail transport

Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...

 industry. It was founded in 1881 based in mission halls, and now operates a chaplaincy service. In the early days of the Railway Mission there were a number of mission halls at railway stations throughout the country, including one at Bury St. Edmunds

Bury St. Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...

, completed in 1900, and a 1906 building at Salisbury

Salisbury

Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...

.
An excellent example of a Railway Mission Hall is to be found at Norwich

Norwich

Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...

Prince of Wales Road Evangelical Church.

The Railway Mission is a care provider to the rail industry and British Transport Police

British Transport Police

The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...

 through the provision of The National Rail Chaplaincy Service (NRCS). Operating in partnership with London City Mission

London City Mission

London City Mission was set up by David Nasmith on 16 May 1835 in the Hoxton area of east London. The first paid missionary was Lindsay Burfoot.. Today it is part of the wider City Mission Movement....

, the Railway Mission is the principal partner in the NRCS which provides around 25 mainly fulltime chaplains to the Railways enabling pastoral care across the whole of the mainland UK railway network. The National Rail Chaplaincy Service (NRCS) is designed to enhance and support the chain of care provided by the rail businesses.

Information About the Railway Mission

The Railway Mission ...

The British Railway Mission was founded in 1881 to communicate the Christian Gospel to the people working in the railway and associated industries. The railway industry has undergone dramatic changes over the years, but those who work throughout the modern network continue to face many challenges and problems in the 21st Century. The Mission’s founding objective was – “the moral and spiritual advancement of railway employees of all ages”. That objective is still the driving force of the Mission as it seeks to provide independent confidential help and support to any rail industry employee, whether active or retired, at home, hospital or workplace.

For more than a century successive railway managements from board to local level have given much encouragement to the work of the Railway Mission. As well as support from the railways themselves the Railway Mission relies on funding from individual donations to finance its continuing work and expansion of the network of chaplains.

Meeting People... Meeting Needs... is the strap line for the work of the mission. Marriage breakdown, domestic upheaval, serious illness, bereavement, alcohol and drug dependency – can all be deeply distressing and affect not only the quality of the life of the person concerned but also their families and work colleagues. Increasing stress may be experienced as the rail industry develops in the 21st Century. The work of the chaplains compliments that of the welfare services offered by employers. Together we seek to ensure that all employees receive the pastoral care that they need. The Railway Mission is a 7-day a week, 24 hours a day service – just like the rail

Rail transport

Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...

industry itself. The Mission’s chaplains are called to emergency situations and can be relied upon to give careful, meaningful help and advice.

International Railway Mission (IRM)

International Railway Mission is an interdenominational federation, which connects Christian fellowships with rail staff all over Europe. IRM holds every three years an inspiring conference and leisure week. Where the members and supporters of the different Railway Missions can exchange experiences and enjoy fellowship with other participants. Since the foundation of the IRM in 1926 nine countries have been added to the federation. The newest member is the Netherlands (2007). Contacts to North America and India are in progress.

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• Austria: Gemeinschaft Gläubiger Eisenbahner Österreichs

• Germany: Christliche Vereinigung Deutscher Eisenbahner - Eisenbahnermission (CVDE)

• Great Britain: British Railway Mission (BRM)

• Nederland: Nederlands Netwerk van Christenen in die Spoorwegbranche (NNCS)

• Switzerland: Evangelisch christliches Verkehrspersonal der Schweiz (ECV)

• United States: Railroad Evangelistic Association

• Finland: Railway Mission Of Finland

External links

• Home Page UK Railway Mission
• Home Page EU Railway Mission
• Friday, 16 November, 2001, Memorial stone and plaque unveiled to seven-year-old Sophie George, and Kymberley Allcock, who was eight
• The Culross Mission Chaplain at Kings Cross
• Villagers honour train crash dead Humphrey Gillott, Railway Chaplain prayed for those in the rescue who had seen "difficult scenes".
• Parishioners first at crash site
• 7th of July 2005 The aftermath of the London bombs
• Transform Work UK
• Chaplains Photograph by Soft Tones Photography
• Railway Mission Calendar Around 44,000 are distributed around the UK Railway each year