Fishermen's Mission
Charitable organisation | |
| Registration no. | England and Wales: 232822 Scotland: SC039088 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Providing practical, Spiritual, financial and emotional support to active and retired fishermen and their families as well as a 24/7 emergency service to assist with accidents or illness at sea. Not just Deep sea anymore. |
| Headquarters | Mather House, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FJ |
| Location |
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Area served | United Kingdom |
Volunteers | Always needed please contact your local Mission Area or Port officer or the head office via the web page |
| Website | https://www.fishermensmission.org.uk/ |
Fishermen's Mission (since 2014), officially The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (RNMDSF), is a British charitable organisation founded in 1881 to help those working in the UK's fishing industry. The charity, which is run on Christian principles, supports and welcomes persons of all faiths and none. It was founded at the end of the 19th century (1881) to provide assistance and support to the impoverished fishing communities around the coasts of Britain.
Foundation
Fishermen's Mission was founded as "the National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen" by
In 1896 the mission was given the royal approval by Queen Victoria adding "Royal" to the mission's name.[1]
Aims
The Fishermen's Mission aims to provide financial, emotional and pastoral support to
During both the
Mission ships
The purpose of a ‘mission ship’ was to provide pastoral and spiritual support for fishermen at sea. The first Mission Ship to be commissioned was Alpha in 1900, followed by Joseph & Sarah Miles, and Queen Alexandra in 1902. As well as being hospital ships, they were all equipped with fishing-gear and sent their fish to market with the rest of the fleet.[5] In 1911, the ships were described as:
"A Mission ship is one of the most interesting vessels afloat. She is a cruising hospital, a place of worship, a tobacco shop, a clothing establishment, a free library, a club-room, an hotel, and a recreation ground. If a smacksman is sick or injured, he will be fetched on board and receive skilled attention until he is better; if he wants to attend service and hoists a signal to indicate his wish, the Mission boat will call for him".[6]
The great difference between a Mission ship and an ordinary trawler, in connection with fishing, was that Mission ships did not fish on Sundays, whereas very many of the ordinary steam-trawlers did.[5] As a hospital ship these vessels carried a surgeon and surgeon's mate, along with a crew capable of turning their hands to nursing. A complete surgical outfit of instruments was available, including the ability to take X-rays. The hospital contained two swing cots and four berths for patients.[5]
See also
- Apostleship of the Sea
- Sailors' Society
- Mission to Seafarers
References
- ^ a b "History of the Mission". www.fishermensmission.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Deadliest Jobs". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Rompkey, Ron (2009). Grenfell of Labrador: A Biography. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press.
- ^ "FISHERMEN'S MISSION: Imperial War Museum". wildworks.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ a b c RNMDSF (1905). Among the Deep Sea Fishers. Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (PDF). Toronto. p. 26.
- ^ Wood, W. (1911). North Sea Fishers and Fighters. Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co. London.
External links
- Official website
- "Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, registered charity no. 232822". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
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