Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s chaplain, Bishop Chris Edmondson has explained the value of his role ahead of National Sports Sunday this weekend.
National Sports Sunday on May 11 sees churches of all types and backgrounds engage with,and pray for those reaching out to the sports community, work which Bishop Chris, an Honorary Bishop in our diocese, has been doing at Headingley for six years.
“During that time the Club has come through a difficult period and there have been a lot of changes in attitudes and personnel,” Bishop Chris said.
“My role has been welcomed across the club in many ways, perhaps mainly as a listening ear to the players, staff and members of the supporters organisation.
“During County Championship games, you can find me in the multi-faith prayer room which is open to everyone and it’s encouraging that there’s not been a match when I’ve had nobody come and speak with me.
“The other day, someone came in and simply said: ‘I’m not sure why I’m here, but I’ve been starting to think about Christianity’. That was a good start for a conversation.
“Being a Sports Chaplain is an exciting role as it’s a great pastoral opportunity and you can be a bridge to connect people who are considering a Christian life.
“A lot of professional sports people live very insecure lives in that they may be dropped from a team or suffer serious injuries and it’s at those times in particular that it becomes part of God’s mission to support them as we would anyone else.”
Bishop Chris is pictured at Headingley with YCCC’s General Manager Gavin Hamilton.