Chelmsford's "Vicar in a Van" spreads gospel of fire safety

An innovative partnership with the Diocese of Chelmsford – the first of its kind for the UK fire service – was launched on Saturday (Jan 20).

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend John Gladwin, Chairman of the Fire Authority, Councillor Lionel Lee, Chief Fire Officer David Johnson and Fire Minister, MP Angela Smith were present at the launch reception at Connexions new centre in Southernhay, Basildon.

The scheme will see Fire Safety Evangelist Stephen Rice, taking the fire safety message to congregations throughout the county. [...]

Stephen, affectionately tagged ‘vicar in the van’ though he is not actually ordained, is employed by the Diocese of Chelmsford but will be on permanent secondment to the fire service to carry out his work. Following his training with ECFRS’ community education team, he has spent the last few weeks shadowing other officers as they conducted routine home fire safety visits. Now he is ready to go it alone.

“My job will involve going out to visit different churches and telling them about the service ECFRS offers and then, when the requests come in, I will conduct the home fire safety visits, install smoke alarms and make sure that people are as safe as they can be,” said Stephen, from West Mersea. Stephen was an active member of his local congregation and is training to be a lay evangelist, which is how he came to be chosen for the job. Read more