Who Are We?

Benedict Cambridge - Senior Chaplain

Benedict took up the post of senior chaplain of the multifaith chaplaincy in May 2005.  Since then the multifaith chaplaincy at Staffs has exploded onto the world stage.  We're not sure anyone noticed.

Hailing from the Wirral, he comes to Staffs via, Oxford, Tonbridge, India, Durham and Nottingham.  None of them compare to sunny Stoke-on-Trent, as his therapist is working with him on being able to call it. 

Having spent three years doing a theology degree, two years at vicar factory and four years as a curate in Nottingham, you could say that he has had nine years training for this post.  No, I know it doesn't look like it. 

He is actually quite an interesting person when you get to talk to him.  Truly interested in engaging with all sorts of people and ideas, quite prepared to hold up his belief system to scrutiny and to scrutinise others.  He's also into kayaking, climbing and films. 

He is married to Georgina and they have two boys: Samuel, who is eight, and Joshua, who is six. 

Benedict is based mainly at the Stoke Site, his office is in Faith House.

Benedict says 'The aspect of Chaplaincy that I'm concentrating on at the moment is creating space.  The chaplaincy centres at Faith House in Stoke and the Beacon Building in Stafford are fantastic places for quiet space, sacred space, social space, debating space.  They're a place to be, a place to meet, a place to hang out with your mates.  A place to cry.  A place to meditate or pray - a place to find that still small voice of calm'. 

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Senior Chaplain
Faith House
4/5 Winton Square
Station Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 2AD
Tel: 01782 294974
Email: b.h.cambridge@staffs.ac.uk
Mobile: 07901 952381

Stoke multifaith chaplaincy centre
Faith House (by the back gate to Carlton Road)
Tel: Tel: (01782) 294974 or 07901952381
Email: chaplains@staffs.ac.uk  

Mick Williams - Stafford Chaplain

Mick is the full time Chaplain at Stafford, based in the Beacon building in the Multi Faith Chaplaincy centre.  

He’s 39 even though he only looks 23, this is due to Camay and a good nightly routine. He’s been married to Sarah who is a Social Worker for 20 years;   he has one daughter Daisy (age 7) and a Siamese cat called Mr T (age 13). He’s a Wolverhampton man and spent the first ten years of his working life as a Toolmaker in the factories of the Black Country. He has a degree in theology from Nottingham University and has been a Prison Chaplain as well as a Parish Priest in Shifnal,  Stafford, and Penkridge  before coming to work at Staffs University.

He’s a Wolves fan, enjoys lifting weights, playing guitars and has a good collection of Japanese tattoos.  

Mick says ‘If you want to have a chat about bench press techniques, guitars, my Camay routine or want to compare tattoos, come and see me anytime.

I also do spiritual issues.’

Rev Mick Williams
D004
Beacon Building
Staffordshire University
Stafford
ST18 0AD

Tel: 01782 353382
Email:m.williams@staffs.ac.uk
Mobile: 07887655487

Michael Metcalf - Part Time Chaplain, Stafford

Michael ‘Mike’ Metcalf was, until recently, Vicar of St. Paul's Church, Lichfield Road, Stafford, and Rural Dean of Stafford.   He has just retired but loves chaplaincy so much that he continues as usual.   It’s better than gardening.

A man of many parts, which is not to say that he has two heads or too many limbs, he read Maths and then Theology at Cambridge, spent time lecturing in World Faiths at the teacher training college in Walsall, then served as Director of Education for the Diocese of Lichfield.   He climbs mountains, Kilimanjaro as well as spiritual ones, supports Grimsby Town and can remember when they were in the top division.   No, I hadn’t realised he was 150 either but then they do retire you late in the CofE.

His interests include Religious Education in schools, interfaith dialogue, Rotary, Amnesty International, modern church music, his cottage in the Shropshire hills and puzzles. 

He is married to Beryl and has one son, one daughter and two cats.

Michael says 'Chaplaincy for me is about being available to everyone in the university community in principle,   and also about just "being" - being oneself as a Christian and a minister, - being a presence within this vast and fascinating educational enterprise.'

Matt Turner - Part Time Chaplain, Stafford

Matt Turner is a leader of the Beacon International Centre, a church on the Technology Park and El Presidente of their Bistro.  He's been a part time chaplain at Stafford for three years.  He's married to Rachel and has two kids, Samuel and Ruby. 

The Beacon runs a Global Cafe for International visitors to Britain.  If you'd like any info on that, get in touch.  It's a great place to practice your English and meet new friends.

A talented musician, Matt leads worship at the Beacon and can often be found in the Chaplain's office jamming with Mick; though it should be said that what he really likes is 80s electro-pop like Erasure and the last gig he went to was Rick Astley, last week, at the Wagon and Horses in Slough.

An ardent Stafford Rangers and (mighty, mighty) Potters fan, Matt clearly knows a thing or two about the beautiful game.  What those two things are ... is anybody's guess.

Matt says 'Being a Chaplain is a privilege, not a job.  It's about journeying with people of no faith and different faiths.  It's also about encouraging social awareness within the University.'

Howard Mason - Part Time Chaplain, Stoke

Howard has been a chaplain here for 35 years, no - really!  He puts his youthful good looks down to knowing the Lord, using water to bathe in and his favourite seafood - Curious Squid.

When asked what the most important advice he could give was, Howard, quoting Jesus, said: 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and him who knocks the door will be opened'. 

Contact Howard:
Email: howard@knowlife.org.uk 
Phone: 01782 849937

Faith Advisors on the Multifaith Chaplaincy Team

As part of the multifaith chaplaincy team, we have a number of faith advisors. These are all people who are leaders in their communities and we're very proud to have them as part of the multifaith chaplaincy team.  

Please feel free to contact them on anything relating to their faith and community.

Mr S Roy-Choudhury

Hindu Cultural Association

Dudson Centre

Hope Street

Hanley

Stoke-on-Trent

ST1 5DD

01782 683046

Mr Rana Tufail

Islamic Centre,

Bedford Road,

Shelton.

(01782) 280364

Mr Gurmeet Singh Kallar

61 Liverpool Road

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 1AQ

(01782) 415670

gkall1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk

Revd John Bates

Methodist Advisor

(01782) 847489

john-bates@ennisdaledrive.freeserve.co.uk

Father Simeon Piers

Orthodox Church 

07989687049

For more information or if there is anything you think is missing from this page, you can email Benedict.