The Mission to Seafarers (formerly, The Missions to Seamen) is an international Anglican mission serving mariners and sailors in over 230 ports around the world. Its formal creation was in 1856 through the Church of England although the Mission had its roots in the earlier work of an Anglican priest, John Ashley who in 1835 was on the shore at Clevedon with his son who asked him how the people on Flat Holm could go to church. For the next three months Ashley voluntarily ministered to the population of the island. From there he recognised the needs of the seafarers on the four hundred sailing vessels in the Bristol Channel and created the Bristol Channel Mission. He raised funds and in 1839 a specially designed mission cutter was built with a main cabin which could be converted into a chapel for 100 people.^[1]

The organisation adopted a flying angel as its symbol in 1858. The name change to Mission to Seafarers occurred in 2000.

The Patron is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The Secretary General is the Revd Tom Heffer. The organisation's offices are in London.

[edit] See also

• Apostleship of the Sea
• Sailors' Society
• International Christian Maritime Association
• The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen
• The Marine Society
• Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey (Episcopal Seafarers' Advocacy founded in 1834)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website

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