Your chaplain
The Revd Hayley Matthews was appointed to serve as Chaplain to MediaCityUK at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester September 22 2010.
Speaking about the Anchor project Hayley said; “The Anchor will provide a distinctly Christian presence for MediaCityUK, the chaplaincy will also provide a space for people of all faiths and none to celebrate, question and be inspired by the work of regeneration and transformation that we are privileged to be a part of here. I hope that for many the gap between sacred and secular will lessen as we integrate faith and spirituality with daily life, and that our responsibility as communicators through all forms of media will be challenged and developed positively.”
October 2011
The Anchor now has its own office base at MediaCityUK on the second floor of The Pie Factory. The entrance is off Broadway where the tramtracks cross the road. Please don't be put off by the security guard at the gate - they will be only too happy to direct you to us and are only there to guide people in the right direction.
Morning Prayer takes place at 9am daily in my office and we celebrate an informal Holy Communion at 1pm every Wednesday in room 3:24 (Faith Room) in the Salford University Building (criss-cross pattern) followed by 1.45pm Lectio & Lunch as we chew over a scripture while we sit and have lunch together.
On Thursdays 5-5.30pm we enjoy Sacred Space, a time opened with just a word or two followed by twenty candel-lit minutes of perfect peace. We end our time with some gentle music during which people are free to leave at their pleasure. The perfect antidote to a stressful week!
Our monthly Film Nights (last Monday of the month) on the first floor mezzanine of The Holiday Inn followed by some lively conversation in the bar, are going well, and our Big Business Breakfasts (Big Bacon Butty) continues to be a popular draw.
The MediaCityUK Community Gospel Choir (Thursdays 6pm -7.15pm in The Pie Factory) has a real buzz about it as people from all across Salford of all ages as well as on site come and learn well loved and brand new arrangements of popular gospel songs. We don't use words or music, we learn by ear and have a lot of fun learnig to use our voices to the best of their ability.
We've been delighted to work with many departments within the BBC despite them still being mid-move, on collaborative projects with the wider community, communications teams, Religion and Ethics, Childrens, News and Sport departments, and we look forward to these partnerships continuing to develop. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to take part in many acts of worship and broadcasting from Salford City Radio to Radio's 2,4,5 and Manchester as well as writing articles/being interviewed for lots of publications excited by Pioneering Minsitry in a brand new environment. It really does make you think about communicating God's love effectively, working in such a diverse media-centric community that is saturated with news and entertainment 24/7.
Salford's Interfaith Network (SIN) has it's inaugural meeting in the Salford University Building on Monday 21 November 11-3pm. The Anchor is proud to host Salford's Interfaith Dialogue Group quarterly, and our volunteer team is now expanding to include representatives from other faith groups. Last month we were thrilled to interview Aziz Rashid and Tommy Nagra for our first meeting and we have booked the Church of England's lead Bishop for Communications, Nick Baines for our next group 7.30pm Monday 13 February 2012 (pop it in your diary!) and we hope to have a second exciting guest from Religion and Ethics (tbc).
