A further review after 6 months of ministering together showed that real progress has been made.

Michael is able to attend the store during the main part of the day and has got to know many more members of staff.

It was also heartening to see that our respective ministries are effective in different ways and reach different individuals.

Looking to the future we have identified effective ministry to customers as being both a major challenge and a great opportunity.

Discussions are now proceeding on recruiting a third team member who will focus on customer contacts.

The vision is that he (a particular person has been identified) will seek ways to develop a new style of chaplaincy more suited to the briefer and transitory nature of contacts with customers.

On a national level a national conference for ASDA chaplains is being organised for mid November in Leeds and regular meetings are under way at ASDA House with senior ASDA managers to review and plan the ongoing initiative of chaplaincy in ASDA stores.


Rev Dr Mark Houghton


ASDA Chaplaincy



Chaplaincy at ASDA Longsight is now in its third year and is now an established part of life in the store.

The ministry has been endorsed by the ordination of Dr. Mark Houghton to chaplaincy at the store.

The ordination occurred in November was led by the Moderator of the NW synod of the United Reformed Church, Rev. Peter Brain, and representatives of the Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic Churches participated in the laying on of hands.

This is thought to be the first time a minister has been ordained specifically to retail chaplaincy.

The event resulted in a two page article in the Guardian Newspaper on the ministry at Longsight and about ASDA chaplaincy in general.

Unfortunate in more ways than one, a proposed feature by CNN news corporation was cancelled as the film crew had to leave to cover the illness of the late Pope.

Progress was reviewed at the end of the second year of chaplaincy at the Longsight store.

The review showed that high staff turnover, at 20% (compared to retail typically at 24%) and varying shift patterns resulted in some staff being well served and other staff being at the periphery.

This was compounded by Mark Houghton adopting the role of NW Coordinator of ASDA chaplains.

It was therefore decided to create a chaplaincy team.

After various enquiries and discussions Rev. Segun Ogundipe, Michael to his friends, joined in mid 2004.

Michael is pastor of Longsight New Covenant Church, a Black majority church on the doorstep of the Longsight store.