England Integrates the Anglican Church to its Nationwide Emergency Response Service
The Anglican Church was adopted into England’s nationwide emergency response procedures, letting the church tend to the emotional and spiritual needs of survivors, relatives and all those involved in rescue operations.
The plan was developed as a direct result of the rail crash at Great Heck, near Selby, almost three years ago. In the aftermath of the tragedy, in which 10 people died, local clergy worked alongside the emergency services, comforting and guiding the victims.
Reverend Cyril Roberts, the Team Rector of Great Snaith, near Great Heck, was one of the first on the scene of the rail crash in 2001.
"It's certainly important that churches are involved in major incidents and it's important that we do it in a coordinated and ecumenical way," he said. "Coordinated with the emergency services and ecumenically because in any major incident we're just dealing with the people who are involved with the incident and they come from a variety of faiths and backgrounds."
The new plan integrates the Anglican Church into the county's emergency response procedures, and includes advice on working with people of other faiths and cultures.
