As we get through these last few weeks of March, the town has settled into that quiet, damp rhythm we now know so well. Getting ready for a patrol has become a bit of a ritual of “layering up” – picking out the thermals, beanies and waterproofs, making sure we’re ready for whatever the weather throws at us.
But it’s a team effort from the start. While the Street Pastors are bundling up, our Prayer Pastors are also getting settled. Before anyone even sets foot on the pavement, a simple blessing is said over the team, asking for a bit of safety and a lot of heart for the night ahead. Whether we’re out in the drizzle or keeping watch in the quiet, we’re in it together.
The rain has been pretty relentless lately, which usually means the streets are empty of almost everyone. Some nights, the town feels completely still – the crowds have headed home, leaving the pavements shiny and deserted. But for us, “quiet” doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. If anything, it’s an opportunity to catch up with the people who keep the night-time economy going – the door staff, the taxi drivers, and the teams on shifts in the local venues. Over the years, we’ve become familiar faces to one another, and those quiet chats mean a lot.
The dedicated Street and Prayer Pastor team (minus our two newest recruits!)
In that stillness, you also notice the people who have nowhere else to go. When the town is busy, they’re easily missed, but in the quiet, those overlooked in the busyness of life stand out. For them, we aren’t just a uniform; we’re someone who’s stayed out to be with them. Whether it’s a long chat in a cold doorway or a quiet moment of prayer, the goal is always the same: making sure that even on the coldest nights, no one has to feel they’re walking these streets alone.
Walking Together
What Street Pastors do isn’t about grand or flashy gestures; it’s simply about a calling to be Jesus’ hands and feet for anyone we meet. Whether it’s offering a listening ear to someone having a tough night or a friendly “hello” to a worker during their shift, we’re there to be a consistent, loving presence. Our Prayer Pastors join with the team on the streets by covering every patrol in prayer, asking for the right words to be said and for a heart to hear what isn’t being said.
Our volunteers come from right across the local Christian community, and we’re always looking for more people to join us. If you’re an active member of a local church and feel a bit of a nudge to get involved – whether you fancy walking the streets as a Street Pastor or supporting the town as a Prayer Pastor – we’d love to have a chat.
Our heart on the streets: Our teams are made up of volunteers who simply care about our town. We aren’t out there to preach or try to convert anyone; we’re just there to Care, Listen, and Help everyone out in the night-time economy, without any judgment or condemnation. We work alongside other local teams and agencies, but our main focus is simply being a friend to those who need one.
Why not see for yourself? The best way to understand what we do is to come out with us as an observer for a night. There’s no pressure – just a chance to see the streets through our eyes and see if it’s for you.
If you’re interested in knowing more, drop a line to our coordinator, Linda, by e-mail at stratforduponavon@streetpastors.org.uk
Caring, Listening, and Helping
Since our last update in the heart of winter, the teams have been out rain or shine. Here are a few bits and pieces from the recent patrol reports that show what we’ve been up to:
A Moment of Care:
- We walked towards the Bancroft where we saw four young men who were obviously a little worse for wear and one who was being egged on by his mates to swim across the water in the basin! We talked him out of that, but there then appeared another group of lads who were obviously a little bit younger on the other side. They started shouting to one another which became quite loud, and the two groups then came together. We watched from a short distance away, but it was all just banter and high jinks.
- On Bridgefoot, 3 young men passed us and requested lollipops. They were very cheery and appreciated what we do.
- A couple asked us if we had seen Jack1 and Jane1 earlier and were pleased that we had and had given them hot drinks. They were complimentary about what Street Pastors do.
A Time to Listen
- We resumed our tour of the town and saw someone sitting on a bench by the river on the Bancroft Gardens. We walked over to talk to him and it was a young man who was an actor from the RSC and was pleased to see us and talk to us.
- In Ely Street we chatted to a lady door person, clearly a Christian judging by the conversation and the blessing she wished us.
- We headed out towards the gyratory and met a middle-aged man who seeing our uniforms asked us who we were and what we did. He was complimentary about us and told us that he had been at Cheltenham all week.
- We met a young lady by the Swan fountain who was waiting for a friend. She asked each of us about how we became Christians and we chatted with her for a while.
A Helping Hand:
- We found two men sitting outside Tesco Express, Martin1 and Matthew1. They were both looking very cold. We offered hot drinks and also a blanket and additional sleeping bag and Luke1 asked if we had a jacket as he only had a thin fleece. We got two hot chocolates from MacDonald’s and headed back to base to pick up a sleeping bag and jacket which we delivered to them.
- We found Frank1, Fred1 and Fiona1 with their “camp” in the doorway of the old Poundland. We gave out gloves and a hat to Frank1. Fiona1 asked if we could get some hot water for her hot water bottle, we said that we couldn’t but we did have some hand-warmers which we gave her. Frank1 also asked for a sleeping bag and we agreed to bring one back later.
1Note: Name changed to protect privacy.
From the Heart
We’ve been sharing some thoughts on our social media lately from the team about what keeps them going. Not everyone is online, so we wanted to share this recent reflection from one of our own:
Standing with us in Prayer
We know that not everyone can be out on the streets on a Friday evening, but knowing people are thinking of us at home makes all the difference. If you’d like to keep the town in your prayers, here’s what’s on our minds:
- For those on the night shift: Remember the door staff and the taxi drivers. It’s a long, often thankless shift. Pray they stay safe and that our “hellos” give them a bit of a lift.
- For the ones we miss in the crowd: In the quiet, we see the people who are really struggling. Pray we have the patience to listen properly and the kindness to see the person, not just the problem.
- For a bit of wisdom: Ask that we’d know when to speak and when to just keep quiet and be there. Pray for that “gut feeling” when someone is in a bit of a spot.
- For our Prayer Pastors: They’re the backbone of this. Pray they feel a real sense of peace while they keep watch for the team and the town.
- For the town as it wakes up: As the nights get busier again, pray our town stays a place where people look out for each other.