His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset visited Hinkley Point C in Bridgwater this month (Friday 13th October) to meet with the project’s chaplaincy team and workers from the Christian and Muslim communities.
Mohammed Saddiq and one of his Deputy Lieutenants, Jane Sedgman spoke with the project’s chaplaincy team about the spiritual and pastoral support available for the 10,000 people working to build the new nuclear power station. Hinkley Point C is the first construction site in Britain to have a salaried chaplain, with the team recently expanding to include 7 volunteer chaplains. Spiritual ceremonies are held before major construction activities, including concrete pours and tunnelling works. Ewen Huffman, Hinkley Point C’s Lead Chaplain, has also set up the regular prayers for staff at Hinkely. Those unable to join in person can do so via Zoom. Pia Ellis regularly joins the prayer meetings, “It’s nice to be with fellow believers in the middle of the working day. It’s probably one of the things that I like best about working here.”
Ewen said, "Our workforce includes a broad mix of people from different backgrounds, nationalities, beliefs, and religions – and we’re there for everyone when they need support. We are honoured that the King’s representative in Somerset and his Deputy Lieutenant have visited us to see how this works in practice.”
After a tour of the construction site, the Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenant also met with members of the workforce from the Christian and Muslim faiths and took part in Friday prayers. Mohammed Saddiq, Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset said, "It was fascinating to hear about the progress of the project but also to learn of the efforts the company is making to care for their workforce and to cater for the needs of people from different faiths. In today's workforce that is so important.
"Everyone is encouraged to talk to one another, to work together as a community, that includes sharing their faith. Being here and listening in on the Christian service and then having the opportunity to join in the Friday prayers and seeing the Muslim and Christian communities expressing their faith with each other through hugs, it was quite extraordinary.”
Mike Haslam, Chaplaincy and Development Adviser for Bath and Wells, was part of the group that joined the Lord-Lieutenant on his visit to Hinkley Point C, “It was wonderful to see a new Christian Worshipping Community being born though the ministry of a Chaplaincy."
