What do we do?
Waterways Chaplains offers support to those who use and live on the UK waterways and canals. Chaplains are volunteers from local churches who regularly visit the waterways offering companionship and a listening ear to individuals and businesses.

How can Chaplains help you on the waterways?
"I can’t thank you all enough and my local surgery for recommending I contact you and a higher power for helping out too. I feel very privileged to have been given the help and support I’ve received when I needed it most otherwise it could have been a very different outcome. You have categorically SAVED A LIFE! God bless you all." Boater H, Buckby Locks
Contact a Waterways Chaplain
Use this form to get in touch with us and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Don't forget to include your location.
Contact Us
Please do get on touch with us, if you need a listening ear, someone to talk to, or you are interested in finding out about becoming a Waterways Chaplain.
We look forward to hearing from you….
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 complete this email contact form remembering to include your full location e.g. canal/river/bridge or lock number so we can (more…)
Meet The Team
Hover over the picture to see contact details for the chaplain.

Revd Chris Upton - National Lead Waterways Chaplain
I am a Baptist Pastor and I also work for Christians Against Poverty. Contact email : chris.upton@waterwayschaplaincy.org.uk

Howie Pickering - Lead Waterways Chaplain- North
I serve as Pastor of a small community of faith called God’s Garage as well as being a part of Longriders Christian Motorcycle Club; both

Revd Sarah Hayes - Lead Waterways Chaplain -South 07878 455644
I am an ordained Church of England minister, most recently Vicar of a church in Woking, Surrey. Before that I was for many years a…

Lorraine Newman - Senior Waterways Chaplain - South East
I am a retired teacher and have had the privilege of serving as a Waterways Chaplain since 2012. I live with my husband Mike in a village

Steve Clarke - Senior Waterways Chaplain - Lancashire Hub
I am a Church of England priest currently serving as a non-stipend curate in the Diocese of Liverpool. I run my own small business ……

Fergus McCloghry - Senior Waterways Chaplain - Central Hub
Fergus is the Senior WWC Responsible for the Central Hub

Sallyann Ford - Senior Waterways Chaplain - East Anglia Rivers Hub
Sallyann is the Senior WWC Responsible for the East Anglia Rivers Hub. I Live in Ely and on our boat half of the time. I’m

Charles Garven - Senior Waterways Chaplain - Severn and Avon Hub
Charles is the Senior WWC Responsible for the Severn and Avon Hub.

Rev David Howling - Senior Waterways Chaplain - London Hub
David is the Senior WWC Responsible for the London Hub “I am a Baptist Minister currently serving in a pioneering context amongst leisure boaters and

Alison Saunders - Senior Waterways Chaplain - Kennet and Avon Hub
Alison is the Senior WWC Responsible for the Kennet & Avon Hub I live in Hungerford near to the K & A. My husband is

Sally Davies - Senior Waterways Chaplain - North East Hub
Sally is the Senior WWC Responsible for the North East Hub. She works at Sheffield Cathedral and also serves as a Church of England Reader.

Barbara Davis - Senior Waterways Chaplain - North Midlands Hub
Babs is the Senior WWC Responsible for the North Midlands Hub.

Kenny Frost - Senior Waterways Chaplain - West Midlands Hub
Kenny Frost is the Senior WWC Responsible for the West Midlands Hub.

Mike Cadman - Senior Waterways Chaplain - Broads Hub
Mike Cadman is the Senior WWC Responsible for the Broads Hub.