The Boaters Christian Fellowship is a United Kingdom-based Christian charity registered under number 1101100, established to provide worship, witness, and fellowship for the canal boating community. Founded in 2004, it supports members through communal activities and spiritual resources tailored to those engaged with inland waterways.

History

The organisation became a registered charity in 2004[1], operating under a formal constitution. In 2015, longstanding leaders Alan and Hazel stepped down during the Annual General Meeting[1]. By 2017, administrative roles evolved, with Tim assuming responsibility for the Fellowship's website, while he and Tracey jointly managed its magazine until late 2018[5]. The magazine was later transferred to new editors familiar with its production tools[5].

Activities

The Fellowship focuses on fostering connections among Christians within the boating community, emphasizing shared faith and companionship[4]. Membership is open to individuals irrespective of boat ownership, requiring only an interest in inland waterways[5]. Its activities include collaborative worship and the maintenance of a dedicated publication, though the latter underwent leadership changes in 2018[5].

Structure

As a registered charity, the Fellowship operates democratically through annual meetings and volunteer-led roles. Key positions include editorial and publicity responsibilities, historically managed by members contributing their expertise[5]. The organisation also maintains an online presence to engage its geographically dispersed membership[5].

Geographical reach

While primarily UK-based, third-party records indicate operational mentions in Australia, France, and Germany, though details of international activities remain unspecified[3].

[1] https://www.boaterschristianfellowship.org.uk/history.html [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3993616 [3] https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1101100 [4] https://www.boaterschristianfellowship.org.uk/fellowship.html [5] https://www.sola-gratia.org.uk/boaters-christian-fellowship.html