Chaplains
Our SFRS Chaplains are available to support all of us at any time. They welcome contact from operational staff, support staff, volunteers, members of your family or anyone in the community who needs a sympathetic listening ear in complete confidence.
Their support is not about religion or trying to convert, they are simply good people with excellent listening skills wanting to help others through a difficult time.
Rev. Andrew Wragg
I am Lead Chaplain covering Leek, Biddulph, Longnor and Ipstones. I also cover any station that may not currently have chaplaincy support.
I have been a Chaplain for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for many years and offer support to all operational front line and support staff. This also extends to members of our communities who access our stations.
The benefits to being a Chaplain are that I can support people in many areas and be that extra independent support network when called upon. I have spent many years in the National Health Service alongside my Church Ministry. I am a proud father to a wonderful teenage daughter and in my spare time I enjoy walks in the countryside, darts and playing snooker.
Tel: 07407 708321
Email: andrew.wragg2@googlemail.com
Rev. David Lawrence
I have been a Chaplain for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for many years and I’m based at Stafford Fire Station. I count it a real privilege to be their chaplain.
I am also the minister of Harvest Community Church and continue to be excited about my Mission in Stafford. The challenges and needs me and my wife Elaine meet daily in Stafford is motivation enough as we are passionate about the community in Stafford.
I have been married since 1991 and we are parents to three amazing grown up children, and three equally fabulous grandchildren! This may sadden the uninspired, but my hobbies are golf and watching my beloved football team, Liverpool!
Tel: 07763 281904
Email: david@hccstafford.org
Fr Martin Bishop
I have been a Chaplain with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for many years and I’m based at Longton Fire Station.
As well as the Fire Service, I volunteer with SSRP "Think Bike team", The Salvation Army, Stone Alzheimer's, NABD (National association for bikers with disability) and CVM (Christian vision for men).
I was also previously an international athlete running in both the World and European mountain racing championships.
I've trekked extensively in the Himalayas as well as in Morocco, Madagascar, Bulgaria, Armenia, Spain and Portugal and still cycle between 150-200 miles each week, but have not raced for 16 years.
Tel: 07787 893409
Email: father.martin55@gmail.com
Rev. Simon Douglas
I have been Chaplain at Bilbrook and Codsall for 4 years. Prior to that I was Chaplain in West Midlands Fire Service for 3 years.
Chaplaincy is about being someone outside the system, to whom anyone can turn, celebrating the joys of life, as well as the challenges and the task of being a firefighter. Although I am a Christian, chaplaincy is not about pushing any religion or philosophy, but being there to talk to and to listen, and it has been a huge privilege to be called upon in challenging circumstances.
When I’m not on station, I am vicar of two churches, in Aldersley and Bilbrook. My wife works in education, and we have four children. I am passionate about the outdoors, rugby, cycling and board games.
Tel: 07935 036045
Email: simon@sdouglas.org
Revd. Jane Held
Revd Jane Held is currently the Priest in Charge of 6 churches in the Staffordshire Moorlands. She is also overseeing another 8 churches in vacancy. Her patch covers the area from Leek and Cheadle to Buxton, and Ashbourne. She was originally an Archaeologist, then worked in Social Work leadership until 2004 when she set up her own business, working for Central and Local Government. She specialised in Safeguarding policy and practice. She worked with all those services involved in Safeguarding Partnerships including the Police and the NHS, Probation and the Prison Service, as well as Fire and Rescue services across the county. She became a priest in the Church of England in 2018 at the ripe old age of 64 and moved to the Moorlands in 2021. She is based in Ipstones at the Vicarage. She is the chaplain available to Ipstones and Longnor Retained Fire Stations. She is trained to provide advice, support and 1:1 counselling in relation to loss and grief, as well as pastoral ministry to anyone who needs a chat, a shoulder, a brew, a laugh, a cry, or a prayer or two.
Tel: 01538 262116
Email: jane@janeheld.co.uk
Heather Lucas
My name is Heather Lucas, I am a fully Endorsed Chaplsin through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and serve as the Chaplain at Newcastle-under-lyme Community Fire station, I have worked out of this station for a number of years.
My background is in counselling and wellness therapies, and recently qualifying as a wellbeing coach with focus on mental health recovery and living well with mental health situations.
It is a personal privilege to support all staff, crew members and community groups at the station in a low-keyed and confidential way.